Shloka 9
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
आहूतो हि परै राजाक्षात्र॑ व्रतमनुस्मरन् । दीव्यते परकामेन तन्न: कीर्तिकरं महत्,महाराज युधिष्ठिरको शत्रुओंने द्यूतके लिये बुलाया है; अतः ये क्षत्रियव्रतको ध्यानमें रखकर दूसरोंकी इच्छासे जूआ खेलते हैं। यह हमारे महान् यशका विस्तार करनेवाला है
āhūto hi paraiḥ rājā kṣātra-vratam anusmaran | dīvyate para-kāmena tan naḥ kīrti-karaṃ mahat ||
Arjuna said: “When a king is challenged and summoned by others, remembering the warrior’s code, he plays at dice in compliance with the opponent’s wish. For us, O King Yudhiṣṭhira, this is held to be a great occasion for the increase of fame—yet it also binds us to a perilous custom where honor is measured by accepting a reckless invitation.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension in kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior-king is socially expected to accept a formal challenge (even to dice), treating refusal as dishonor. Yet the ethical risk is clear—acting merely to satisfy an opponent’s desire can lead to ruin, showing how ‘honor codes’ can be exploited and may conflict with prudence and true righteousness.
In the context of the dice match, Arjuna addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, explaining why kings, when summoned by rivals, feel compelled to gamble: they remember the warrior code and comply with the challenger’s wish. He frames it as something traditionally seen as fame-enhancing, even as it draws them into the dangerous dyūta episode.