Shloka 22
सभा-पर्व, अध्याय 56: विदुरस्य द्यूत-निन्दा
Vidura’s Censure of Dicing and Warning to the Kurus
तत्पश्चात् विद्वान् राजा धृतराष्ट्रने मन्त्रियोंमें प्रधान विदुरको यह आज्ञा दी कि तुम राजकुमार युधिष्ठिरके पास जाकर मेरी आज्ञासे उन्हें शीघ्र यहाँ लिवा लाओ ।।
tataḥ paścāt vidvān rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ mantriṣu pradhānaṃ viduraṃ etad ājñāpayām āsa—tvaṃ rājaputram yudhiṣṭhiram upetya mama ājñayā śīghram iha ānaya। sabhā iyaṃ me bahuratnā vicitrā śayyāsanair upapannā mahādhanaḥ। sā dṛśyatāṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdham etya suhṛd-dyūtaṃ vartatām atra ceti॥
Then the wise king Dhṛtarāṣṭra issued an order to Vidura, foremost among his ministers: “Go to Prince Yudhiṣṭhira, and by my command bring him here at once. This royal assembly-hall of mine is rich in many jewels, adorned with splendid couches and seats, and filled with great wealth. Let him come here together with his brothers and see it; and let friendly play at dice (dyūta) take place here.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unethical intent can be masked as courteous invitation: a king’s command and the allure of royal splendor are used to draw a virtuous person into a setting where his weakness (attachment to dice and social obligation) may be exploited. It cautions that dharma requires discernment about context and consequences, not merely compliance with polite forms.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra instructs Vidura to go to Yudhiṣṭhira and bring him quickly to the Kuru assembly hall. He emphasizes the hall’s magnificence and proposes that a ‘friendly’ dice game be held there with Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers—setting the stage for the famous gambling match.