Shloka 33
Dyūta-kathā-praśnaḥ — Inquiry into the Dice-Game Calamity
युधिष्ठिर: सहामात्य: प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम् दुर्योधनो महाराज शकुनिश्चापि सौबल: । सभायां रमणीयायां तत्रैवास्ते नराधिप,भरतश्रेष्ठ जनमेजय! समस्त क्षत्रियोंक चले जानेपर कल्याणमय मांगलिक कृत्य पूर्ण करके भाइयोंसे घिरे हुए राजा युधिष्ठिरने मन्त्रियोंक साथ अपने उत्तम नगरमें प्रवेश किया। महाराज! दुर्योधन तथा सुबलपुत्र शकुनि ये दोनों उस रमणीय सभामें ही रह गये
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sahāmātyaḥ praviveśa purottamam | duryodhano mahārāja śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ | sabhāyāṃ ramaṇīyāṃ tatrāivāste narādhipa |
Vaiśampāyana said: Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by his ministers, entered his excellent city. But Duryodhana, O great king, and Śakuni, the son of Subala, remained there in that delightful assembly hall.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a moral contrast: the dharmic king returns to orderly governance with his counsellors, while the envious and manipulative figures remain in the assembly hall—hinting that institutions meant for justice can be corrupted when driven by resentment and deceit.
After the broader gathering disperses, Yudhiṣṭhira enters his capital with his ministers, whereas Duryodhana and Śakuni stay behind in the splendid sabhā, setting the stage for the coming plot centered on the assembly hall.