Shloka 33
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
युधिछिर उवाच नैव हस्वा न महती न कृष्णा नातिरोहिणी । नीलकुज्चितकेशी च तया दीव्याम्यहं त्वया
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: naiva hrasvā na mahatī na kṛṣṇā nātirohiṇī | nīlakuñcitakeśī ca tayā dīvyāmy ahaṃ tvayā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Ia tidak pendek dan tidak pula tinggi; tidak berkulit gelap dan tidak pula terlalu kemerahan; rambutnya hitam kebiruan dan ikal. Dengan Draupadī itulah sebagai taruhan, aku akan berjudi denganmu.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral collapse: under the spell of gambling and competitive pride, Yudhiṣṭhira treats a person as a stake. It anticipates the larger dharma-question of whether anyone can be ‘owned’ or wagered, and how desire and addiction can override righteous judgment.
During the dice match in the royal assembly, Yudhiṣṭhira describes Draupadī’s appearance and declares that he will gamble with her as the wager, escalating the stakes and precipitating the ensuing outrage and dharma-debate.