Shloka 13
Adhyāya 59: Vidura’s Admonition to Duryodhana after the Summons of Draupadī (सभा पर्व)
शकुने! हमलोग जिस धनसे अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार ब्राह्मणोंकी रक्षा करनेका ही प्रयत्न करते हैं, उसको तुम जूआ खेलकर हमलोगोंसे हड़पनेकी चेष्टा न करो ।।
śakune! nikṛtyā kāmaye nāhaṃ sukhāny uta dhanāni vā | kitavasyeha kṛtino vṛttam etan na pūjyate ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Śakuni, janganlah engkau berusaha merampas dari kami lewat perjudian harta yang kami gunakan, sesuai kemampuan kami, untuk melindungi dan menopang para Brāhmaṇa. Aku tidak menginginkan kenikmatan ataupun kekayaan melalui kelakuan yang menipu; sebab di dunia ini, jalan seorang penjudi tidak dipandang terhormat oleh orang bijak.”
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth and pleasure should not be pursued through nikṛti (deceit) or gambling; the wise do not honor the conduct of a kitava (gambler). Dharma requires integrity and responsible use of wealth, especially for protecting and supporting Brāhmaṇas.
In the lead-up to the dice match, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Śakuni, warning him not to try to take the Pāṇḍavas’ wealth through gambling. He frames the issue ethically: their wealth is meant for righteous obligations, and deceitful gambling is socially and morally disapproved by the learned.