Shloka 7

सभा-पर्व, अध्याय ६१ — द्रौपदी-प्रश्नः, सभाधर्मः, सत्यवचन-नियमः

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरने कहा--यह जो परमानन्ददायक राजरथ है, जो हमलोगोंको यहाँतक ले आया है, रथोंमें श्रेष्ठ जैत्र नामक पुण्यमय श्रेष्ठ रथ है। चलते समय इससे मेघ और समुद्रकी गर्जनाके समान गम्भीर ध्वनि होती रहती है। यह अकेला ही एक हजार रथोंके समान है। इसके ऊपर बाघका चमड़ा लगा हुआ है। यह अत्यन्त सुदृढ़ है। इसके पहिये तथा अन्य आवश्यक सामग्री बहुत सुन्दर है। यह परम शोभायमान रथ क्षुद्र घण्टिकाओंसे सजाया गया है। कुरर पक्षीकी-सी कान्तिवाले आठ अच्छे घोड़े, जो समूचे राष्ट्रमें सम्मानित हैं, इस रथको वहन करते हैं। भूमिका स्पर्श करनेवाला कोई भी प्राणी इन घोड़ोंके सामने पड़ जानेपर बच नहीं सकता। राजन! इन घोड़ोंसहित यह रथ मेरा धन है, जिसे दाँवपर रखकर मैं तुम्हारे साथ जूआ खेलता हूँ ।। वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं श्रुत्वा व्यवसितो निकृतिं समुपाश्रित: । जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! यह सुनकर छलका आश्रय लेनेवाले शकुनिने पुनः पासे फेंके और जीतका निश्चय करके युधिष्ठिस्से कहा--'लो, यह भी जीत लिया”

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca—evaṃ śrutvā vyavasito nikṛtiṃ samupāśritaḥ | jitam ity eva śakunir yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “This royal chariot, a source of highest delight, which has brought us here, is the victorious chariot named Jaitra, foremost and filled with sacred merit. As it moves it gives forth a deep sound like the roar of clouds and the sea. It alone is equal to a thousand chariots. Tiger-skin is set upon it; it is exceedingly firm; its wheels and all its fittings are beautiful; and it is adorned with small bells. Eight fine horses, dark as the shadow of the kurara-bird and honored throughout the realm, bear this chariot. Whoever falls before these horses cannot escape even by setting foot upon the ground. O King, this chariot with its horses is my wealth; I stake it and play at dice with you.” Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing this, Śakuni—firm in resolve and taking refuge in deceit—cast the dice again. Certain of victory, he spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira: “It is won—this too.”

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

व्यवसितःresolved, determined

निकृतिम्deceit, trickery

समुपाश्रितःhaving resorted to, having taken refuge in

जितम्won; victory (as ‘it is won’)

इतिthus (quotative)

एवindeed, just

शकुनिःŚakuni

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhiṣṭhira

अभाषतspoke to, addressed

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śakuni

Yudhiṣṭhira

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical asymmetry between dharmic restraint and adharma: a person committed to propriety (Yudhiṣṭhira) can be trapped when an opponent openly relies on fraud (nikṛti). It warns that righteousness without prudence can be exploited, especially in addictive or honor-bound contests like gambling.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the stake being offered, Śakuni—intent on cheating—throws the dice again and immediately declares victory, telling Yudhiṣṭhira that this item too has been won. It is part of the escalating rigged dice match in the Sabha (royal hall).