Shloka 22
सभा-पर्व, अध्याय 56: विदुरस्य द्यूत-निन्दा
Vidura’s Censure of Dicing and Warning to the Kurus
तत्पश्चात् विद्वान् राजा धृतराष्ट्रने मन्त्रियोंमें प्रधान विदुरको यह आज्ञा दी कि तुम राजकुमार युधिष्ठिरके पास जाकर मेरी आज्ञासे उन्हें शीघ्र यहाँ लिवा लाओ ।। सभेयं मे बहुरत्ना विचित्रा शय्यासनैरुपपन्ना महादें: । सा दृश्यतां भ्रातृभि: सार्धमेत्य सुह्ृद्द्यूतं वर्ततामत्र चेति
tataḥ paścāt vidvān rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ mantriṣu pradhānaṃ viduraṃ etad ājñāpayām āsa—tvaṃ rājaputram yudhiṣṭhiram upetya mama ājñayā śīghram iha ānaya। sabhā iyaṃ me bahuratnā vicitrā śayyāsanair upapannā mahādhanaḥ। sā dṛśyatāṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdham etya suhṛd-dyūtaṃ vartatām atra ceti॥
Alors le sage roi Dhṛtarāṣṭra donna ordre à Vidura, le premier de ses ministres : «Va trouver le prince Yudhiṣṭhira et, de par mon commandement, amène-le ici sans délai. Cette salle d’assemblée qui est mienne est riche de maints joyaux, merveilleusement ornée, pourvue de lits et de sièges, et pleine de grandes richesses. Qu’il vienne avec ses frères la contempler ; et qu’un jeu amical de dés (dyūta) s’y tienne.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unethical intent can be masked as courteous invitation: a king’s command and the allure of royal splendor are used to draw a virtuous person into a setting where his weakness (attachment to dice and social obligation) may be exploited. It cautions that dharma requires discernment about context and consequences, not merely compliance with polite forms.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra instructs Vidura to go to Yudhiṣṭhira and bring him quickly to the Kuru assembly hall. He emphasizes the hall’s magnificence and proposes that a ‘friendly’ dice game be held there with Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers—setting the stage for the famous gambling match.