Shloka 3

Adhyāya 59: Vidura’s Admonition to Duryodhana after the Summons of Draupadī (सभा पर्व)

Devanagari script

तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वथ नृपेषु च शकुनि: सौबलस्तत्र युधिष्ठिरमभाषत,उनके एवं सब नरेशोंके बैठ जानेपर वहाँ सुबलकुमार शकुनिने युधिष्ठिरसे कहा

Transliteration

teṣu tatropaviṣṭeṣu sarveṣv atha nṛpeṣu ca śakuniḥ saubalastatra yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: When all the kings had taken their seats, Śakuni, the son of Subala, addressed Yudhiṣṭhira.

Word by Word

तेषुamong them / in their presence

तत्रthere

उपविष्टेषुwhen (they were) seated

सर्वेषुall

अथthen

नृपेषुkings

चand

शकुनिःShakuni

सौबलःson of Subala / Saubala

तत्रthere

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhishthira

अभाषतspoke (to)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śakuni

Subala

Yudhiṣṭhira

kings (nṛpas)

royal assembly hall (implied by tatra)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames how ethical downfall can begin through seemingly formal, polite speech in a public setting: when power, reputation, and social pressure dominate, dharma can be manipulated by those skilled in deceit.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the gathered kings have taken their seats in the assembly, Śakuni initiates conversation with Yudhiṣṭhira—an opening move that leads into the high-stakes events of the court, especially the coercive dynamics surrounding the game of dice.