Shloka 17
नूनं मनन्ये न दोषो5स्ति नैषधस्य महात्मन: । यत् तु मे वचनं राजा नाभिनन्दति मोहित:,*वे सुहदों और स्वजनोंके वचन अच्छी तरह नहीं सुनते हैं। जूएने उन्हें ऐसा मोहित कर रखा है कि इस समय वे मेरी बातका भी आदर नहीं कर रहे हैं। मैं इसमें महामना नैषधका निश्चय ही कोई दोष नहीं मानती। जूएसे मोहित होनेके कारण ही राजा मेरी बातका अभिनन्दन नहीं कर रहे हैं
nūnaṃ manye na doṣo 'sti naiṣadhasya mahātmanaḥ | yat tu me vacanaṃ rājā nābhinandati mohitaḥ ||
Surely, I think there is no fault in the great-souled king of Niṣadha. It is only that, deluded as he is, the king does not welcome my words. His judgment has been clouded, and so he fails to honor even well-meant counsel from friends and kin.
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral failure is sometimes rooted less in inherent vice than in moha (delusion): when the mind is clouded—here by gambling—one may disregard even wholesome advice, so discernment and self-control are essential for dharmic rule.
Bṛhadaśva reflects that the Niṣadha king (Nala) is not truly at fault by nature; rather, being deluded, he does not welcome or respect the speaker’s counsel—highlighting how gambling-induced confusion makes him ignore well-wishers.