Shloka 16
वंशवर्णनम्, अनिरुद्धविवाहः, तथा बलराम-रुक्मी द्यूतविवादः
अविद्यो ऽयं मया द्यूते बलदेवः पराजितः मुधैवाक्षावलेपान्धो यो ऽवमेने ऽक्षकोविदान्
avidyo 'yaṃ mayā dyūte baladevaḥ parājitaḥ mudhaivākṣāvalepāndho yo 'vamene 'kṣakovidān
“In my ignorance I defeated Baladeva at dice. Blinded by the swagger of the gaming-board, I foolishly looked down upon those who truly understood the art of dice.”
A gambler/opponent boasting after defeating Baladeva (narrative within Parasara’s discourse to Maitreya)
Concept: Pride born of superficial victory blinds discernment and leads one to despise true excellence and dharma.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Treat success as provisional; seek counsel from the truly skilled, and practice humility to avoid contempt-driven conflict.
Vishishtadvaita: Ego (ahaṅkāra) obscures right knowledge; humility aligns the self’s conduct with the Lord’s dharmic order.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
FAQs
This verse frames gambling as a generator of delusion and pride—an ethical warning that skill or a single victory can intoxicate the mind and lead to contempt for others.
By presenting a speaker who admits being ‘blinded’ by dice-born arrogance, the narrative shows how ego (avamāna of the wise) arises from ignorance and becomes the seed of later correction or downfall.
Even when the verse focuses on Balarama and human folly, the Purana’s underlying message is that all events unfold under Vishnu’s sovereign order, where arrogance is ultimately checked and dharma is restored.