Shloka 20
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
“कौरवों तथा अन्य भूमिपालो! आपलोग द्रौपदीके प्रश्नपर किसी प्रकारका विचार प्रकट करें या न करें, मैं इस विषयमें जो न्यायसंगत समझता हूँ, वह कहता हूँ ।। चत्वार्याहर्नरश्रेष्ठा व्यसनानि महीक्षिताम् । मृगयां पानमक्षांश्ष ग्राम्ये चैवातिरक्तताम्,“नरश्रेष्ठ भूपालो! राजाओंके चार दुर्व्यसन बताये गये हैं--शिकार, मदिरापान, जूआ तथा विषयभोगमें अत्यन्त आसक्ति
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: “Kauravāḥ tathā anye bhūmipālāḥ! yūyaṃ Draupadyāḥ praśne kasya-cid-vidhasya vicāraṃ prakāśayatha vā na vā; aham asmin viṣaye yad nyāyasaṅgataṃ manye tad vakṣyāmi. Catvāry āhur naraśreṣṭhā vyasanāni mahīkṣitām—mṛgayāṃ pānam akṣān ca grāmye caivātiraktatām.”
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Kauravas and other rulers of the earth! Whether you choose to express an opinion on Draupadī’s question or not, I will state what seems just to me in this matter. The wise have declared four ruinous vices for kings: hunting, drinking, gambling with dice, and excessive addiction to sensual pleasures.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must guard against four destructive royal vices—hunting, intoxication, gambling, and excessive sensual indulgence—because they cloud judgment and undermine justice (nyāya) and dharma.
In the royal assembly context surrounding Draupadī’s legal-ethical question, the speaker addresses the Kauravas and other kings, saying that even if they remain silent, he will state what he considers the just position, introducing a moral framework by listing the classic vices that lead kings into wrongdoing.