Shloka 162
समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः
Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī
तथाक्षह्गदयप्राप्तिस्तस्मादेव महर्षित: । लोमशस्यागमस्तत्र स्वर्गात् पाण्डुसुतान् प्रति,उन्हीं महर्षिसे पाण्डवोंको अक्षहृदय (जूएके रहस्य)-की प्राप्ति हुई। यहीं स्वर्गसे महर्षि लोमश पाण्डवोंके पास पधारे। लोमशने ही वनवासी महात्मा पाण्डवोंको यह बात बतलायी कि अर्जुन स्वर्गमें किस प्रकार अस्त्र-विद्या सीख रहे हैं
tathākṣahṛdayaprāptis tasmād eva maharṣitaḥ | lomaśasyāgamas tatra svargāt pāṇḍusutān prati ||
Thus, from that very great sage the Pāṇḍavas obtained the Akṣahṛdaya—the secret lore of dice. In that same place the sage Lomaśa arrived from heaven to visit the sons of Pāṇḍu, and he told the forest-dwelling Pāṇḍavas how Arjuna was learning the science of divine weapons in heaven.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes two kinds of ‘knowledge’: the perilous expertise connected with dice (akṣahṛdaya), which can entangle rulers in adharma and loss, and the disciplined acquisition of higher martial knowledge (astra-vidyā) by Arjuna. Ethically, it hints that skills are not equal in value—some lead to ruin through addiction and deception, while others, when pursued with restraint and purpose, support dharma and rightful protection.
The Pāṇḍavas receive the Akṣahṛdaya from a great sage. Then the sage Lomaśa arrives from Svarga to meet them and reports news about Arjuna’s stay in heaven—specifically, that Arjuna is learning the lore of celestial weapons there.