Shloka 31
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
द्यूतेन ते महाराज पुनर्दययूतमवर्तत । भवांश्व पुनराहूतो द्यूते नैवापनेष्यति,“महाराज! आप एक बार जूएके संकटसे बचकर दुबारा द्यूतक्रीडामें प्रवृत्त हो गये थे, अतः मैं समझता हूँ, यदि पुनः आपका द्यूतके लिये आवाहन हो तो आप उससे पीछे न हटेंगे
dyūtena te mahārāja punar dayayūtam avartata | bhavāṁś ca punar āhūto dyūte naivāpaneṣyati ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Oh rey, después de haber sido rescatado una vez del peligro del juego, volviste de nuevo a los dados. Por eso entiendo que, si te convocan otra vez a una partida, no te apartarás de ella.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of relapse: once a person has yielded to a destructive habit like gambling, mere escape from its immediate consequences does not ensure reform. Without self-restraint and discernment, the same invitation will again overpower one’s judgment, leading to repeated downfall.
Vaiśampāyana comments on the king’s prior conduct: despite having been saved once from the crisis caused by gambling, he returned to the dice. From this pattern, the speaker infers that if the king is challenged again to gamble, he will not refuse.