Shloka 24
युधिष्ठिरने कहा--मेरे यहाँ तीतर पक्षीके समान विचित्र वर्णवाले गन्धर्वदेशके घोड़े हैं, जो सोनेके हारसे विभूषित हैं। शत्रुदमन चित्ररथ गन्धर्वने युद्धमें पराजित एवं तिरस्कृत होनेके पश्चात् संतुष्ट हो गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनको प्रेमपूर्वक वे घोड़े भेंट किये थे। राजन्! यह मेरा धन है जिसे दाँवपर लगाकर मैं तुम्हारे साथ खेलता हूँ ।। वैशम्पायन उवाच 48 अल निकृतिं समुपाश्रित: । शकुनिर्युधिष्ठटिरमभाषत
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—mamaite tittirapakṣisadṛśavicitravarṇā gandharvadeśajā aśvāḥ suvarṇahārasamalaṅkṛtāḥ santi. śatrudamanaś citraratho gandharvaḥ saṅgrāme parājitaḥ tiraskṛtaś ca san tuṣṭaḥ san gāṇḍīvadhāriṇam arjunaṃ prītyā tān aśvān upājahāra. rājan, etad mama dhanaṃ yad aham dyūte tvayā saha paṇīkṛtya krīḍāmi.
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “I possess horses from the land of the Gandharvas, of variegated colours like partridges, adorned with golden garlands. After being defeated and humiliated in battle, the Gandharva Citraratha—subduer of foes—became satisfied and, out of affection, presented those horses to Arjuna, the bearer of the Gāṇḍīva. O king, this is my wealth, which I stake and play with you in this game.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical peril of gambling: even prestigious, honor-laden wealth—received through past deeds and relationships—can be reduced to a mere stake. It implicitly contrasts the dignity of gifts and martial merit with the self-destructive compulsion of wagering.
During the dice match, Yudhiṣṭhira identifies a valuable stake: rare, ornamented horses originally gifted by the Gandharva king Citraratha to Arjuna after Citraratha’s defeat. Yudhiṣṭhira declares this wealth and puts it up in the game against the opposing king.