Shloka 3
दुर्योधनवच: श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्र जनाधिपम् । उपगम्य महाप्राज्ञं शकुनिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! गान्धारीपुत्र दुर्योधनके सहित सुबलनन्दन शकुनि राजा युधिष्ठटिरके राजसूय महायज्ञका उत्सव देखकर जब लौटा, तब पहले दुर्योधनके अपने अनुकूल मतको जानकर और उसकी पूरी बातें सुनकर सिंहासनपर बैठे हुए प्रज्ञाचक्षु महाप्राज्ञ राजा धृतराष्ट्रके पास जाकर इस प्रकार बोला
duryodhanavacaḥ śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭra janādhipam | upagamya mahāprājñaṃ śakunir vākyam abravīt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having heard Duryodhana’s words, Śakuni approached King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the lord of men—wise though blind—and addressed him. The scene frames the beginning of a calculated counsel: after Duryodhana’s report, Śakuni moves to influence the elder king, setting in motion choices where attachment to one’s son and political expediency begin to eclipse impartial dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how counsel and proximity to power shape ethical outcomes: even a ruler famed for wisdom can be steered by persuasive advisers and familial attachment, leading to decisions that drift from dharma.
After hearing Duryodhana’s account, Śakuni goes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and begins to speak—introducing the next phase of plotting and persuasion in the Sabha Parva storyline.