Shloka 33
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
“नरेश्वर! वह विवेकशून्य शकुनि जूआ फेंकनेकी कलामें कितना कुशल है, यह आप अच्छी तरह जानते हैं, फिर तो उसमें हारकर आप पुनः वनवास ही भोगेंगे ।। यद्यस्मान् सुमहाराज कृपणान् कर्तुमर्हसि । यावज्जीवमतवेक्षस्व वेदधर्माश्व कृत्सनश:,“महाराज! यदि आप हमें दीन, हीन, कृपण ही बनाना चाहते हैं तो जबतक जीवन है, तबतक सम्पूर्ण वेदोक्त धर्मोंके पालनपर ही दृष्टि रखिये
nareśvara! sa vivekaśūnyaḥ śakuniḥ dyūtaprakṣepa-kalāyāṃ kīdṛśaṃ kuśalaḥ, etad bhavān suṣṭhu jānāti; tasmāt tasmin parājitya bhavān punaḥ vanavāsam eva bhokṣyate. yady asmān, su-mahārāja, kṛpaṇān kartum arhasi, yāvaj-jīvam aveksasva vedokta-dharmān api kṛtsnaśaḥ.
Vaiśampāyana said: “O king! You know well how that undiscerning Śakuni is supremely skilled in casting the dice. If you lose to him, you will once again be forced to endure life in the forest. If, great king, you truly mean to reduce us to wretchedness, then for as long as life remains, keep your gaze fixed on the complete observance of all duties enjoined by the Veda.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच