Shloka 22
पुनर्द्यूत-समाह्वानम्
Renewed Summons to the Dice-Game and Exile Wager
पाण्डवाश्व महात्मानो दीना दुःखसमन्विता: । सत्येनातिपरीताड्डा नोदीक्षन्ते सम किंचन,इधर महात्मा पाण्डव सत्यके बन्धनसे बँधकर अत्यन्त दीन और दुःखमग्न हो गये। उन्हें कुछ भी सूझ नहीं पड़ता था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: pāṇḍavāś ca mahātmāno dīnā duḥkha-samanvitāḥ | satyenātī-parītāḍḍā na udīkṣante samaṃ kiñcit ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Para Pāṇḍava yang berhati luhur, terbelenggu kuat oleh ikatan kebenaran dan ditindih oleh paksaan yang keras, menjadi amat putus asa dan tenggelam dalam duka. Dalam keadaan itu mereka tak mampu melihat jalan keluar atau upaya apa pun.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension: unwavering commitment to satya (truth) and dharma can, in moments of crisis, leave the righteous feeling trapped and helpless—especially when opponents weaponize rules and virtue. Yet the ethical stance itself remains a mark of nobility (mahātman).
In the aftermath of coercive events in the royal assembly, the Pāṇḍavas are portrayed as bound and constrained—emotionally and ethically—becoming deeply sorrowful and unable to see any immediate solution or path forward.