Shloka 4

Devanagari script

अक्षयूते समाद्दानं नियोगात्‌ स्थविरस्थ च । जानन्नपि क्षयकरं नातिक्रमितुमुत्सहे,वृद्ध राजा धृतराष्ट्रकी आज्ञासे जूएके लिये यह बुलावा हमारे कुलके विनाशका कारण है, यह जानते हुए भी मैं उनकी आज्ञाका उल्लंघन नहीं कर सकता

Transliteration

akṣayūte samāddānaṃ niyogāt sthavirasya ca | jānann api kṣayakaraṃ nātikramitum utsahe ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “At the command of the aged king Dhṛtarāṣṭra, I have accepted this invitation to the game of dice. Though I know it will bring ruin, I do not dare to overstep his order.”

Word by Word

अक्षयूतेin the game of dice

समाद्दानम्acceptance; undertaking

नियोगात्from/owing to an injunction (command)

स्थविरस्यof the elder

चand

जानन्knowing

अपिeven/though

क्षयकरम्destructive; causing ruin

नnot

अतिक्रमितुम्to transgress; to overstep

उत्सहेI am able; I dare

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

akṣa (dice)

yūta (dice-game)

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 an ethical conflict: obedience to an elder king’s command versus the responsibility to prevent foreseeable harm. It shows how submission to authority, even with clear knowledge of ruin, can become a moral failure that enables catastrophe.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker reports that, under the old king Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s order, the summons/arrangement for the dice-game is being carried out. Although the messenger/agent knows the gambling match will be destructive, he feels unable to disobey the king’s command.