Shloka 17
सभा-पर्व, अध्याय ६१ — द्रौपदी-प्रश्नः, सभाधर्मः, सत्यवचन-नियमः
सर्वे च पुरभेत्तारो नवमेघनिभा गजा: । एतद् राजन् मम धन तेन दीव्याम्यहं त्वया
sarve ca purabhettāro navameghanibhā gajāḥ | etad rājan mama dhana tena dīvyāmy ahaṃ tvayā ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Todos estos elefantes son rompe-ciudades, con un fulgor como una masa de nubes de lluvia recién formadas. Oh Rey, ésta es mi riqueza; apostándola, juego contigo».
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how immense royal resources and power can be misused when a ruler yields to vice (gambling). Wealth that should serve protection and dharma becomes an instrument of self-ruin when staked under delusion and social manipulation.
In the dice-hall episode, Yudhiṣṭhira continues wagering his possessions. Here he declares that he is staking formidable, city-destroying elephants—describing their cloud-like splendor—while addressing the opposing king in the game.