Shloka 14
युधिछिर उवाच प्राप्तो विवाद: प्रथमं विशाम्पते न विद्यते कं च न मत्स्य हीनतः । न मे जितः कश्नन धारयेद् धनं वरो ममैषो<स्तु तव प्रसादज:,युधिष्ठिरने कहा--मत्स्यराज! नरनाथ! मुझे किसी हीन वर्णके मनुष्यसे विवाद न करना पड़े, यह मैं पहला वर माँगता हूँ तथा मुझसे पराजित होनेवाला कोई भी मनुष्य हारे हुए धनको अपने पास न रखे (मुझे दे दे)। आपकी कृपासे यह दूसरा वर मुझे प्राप्त हो जाय, तो मैं रह सकता हूँ
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: prāpto vivādaḥ prathamaṃ viśāmpate na vidyate kaṃ ca na matsya-hīnataḥ | na me jitaḥ kaścana dhārayet dhanaṃ varo mamaiṣo 'stu tava prasādajaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O lord of the people, O king of Matsya! First, I ask this boon: let it not happen that I must enter into a dispute with anyone of inferior standing in your realm. And secondly, let no one whom I defeat keep the wealth that has been won; let the forfeit be duly handed over. If, by your favor, these boons are granted, then I can remain here.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint and social-ethical order: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks to avoid degrading conflict with those of lower standing and insists on fairness in contests—what is won should be properly surrendered—reflecting a concern for dharma, decorum, and orderly governance.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the king of Matsya and requests boons that regulate conduct in the king’s realm: he asks that he not be forced into disputes with socially inferior persons and that anyone he defeats must hand over the forfeited wealth, enabling him to remain under the king’s protection without disorder.