Shloka 10

अक्षविजय-प्रसङ्गः

Escalation of Wagers and Shakuni’s Repeated Declarations of Victory

Devanagari script

युधिछिर उवाच द्यूते क्षत्त: कलहो विद्यते नः को वै द्यूत॑ रोचयेद्‌ बुध्यमान: । कि वा भवान्‌ मन्यते युक्तरूपं भवद्वाक्ये सर्व एव स्थिता: सम,युधिष्ठटिरने पूछा--विदुरजी! जूएमें तो झगड़ा-फसाद होता है। कौन समझदार मनुष्य जूआ खेलना पसंद करेगा अथवा आप क्या ठीक समझते हैं; हम सब लोग तो आपकी आज्ञाके अनुसार ही चलनेवाले हैं

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | dyūte kṣattaḥ kalaho vidyate naḥ ko vai dyūtaṃ rocayed budhyamānaḥ | kiṃ vā bhavān manyate yuktarūpaṃ bhavadvākye sarva eva sthitāḥ sma ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O Kṣattṛ (Vidura), in gambling there is quarrel and strife—who, being wise and clear-minded, would ever take pleasure in dice-play? Tell me what you consider proper and fitting; for we all stand ready to act in accordance with your counsel.”

Word by Word

• {'dyūta': 'gambling

• dice-play', 'dyūte': 'in gambling (locative)', 'kṣattaḥ (kṣattṛ)': 'O chamberlain/counsellor

• epithet of Vidura', 'kalaha': 'quarrel, dispute, brawl', 'vidyate': 'is found, exists', 'naḥ': 'for us

• among us', 'ko vai': 'who indeed?', 'rocayet': 'would like, would take pleasure in', 'budhyamānaḥ': 'one who understands

• a discerning/wise person', 'kiṃ vā': 'or else

• and what?', 'bhavān': 'you (honorific)', 'manyate': 'thinks, considers', 'yuktarūpam': 'proper, appropriate, reasonable', 'bhavadvākye': 'in/according to your words

• by your advice', 'sarve eva': 'all indeed', 'sthitāḥ sma': 'we stand

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Vidura (Kṣattṛ)
• dice-play (dyūta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Gambling is inherently prone to conflict; a wise person should be wary of it. Ethical action in a royal setting includes seeking sound counsel and aligning one’s conduct with what is reasonable and dharmic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Vidura, acknowledging that dice-play leads to quarrels, and asks Vidura what course is proper. He affirms that he and the others are prepared to follow Vidura’s advice.