Shloka 27
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय ८७: सात्यकेरनुयात्रा
Sātyaki’s resolve and departure to reach Arjuna
न हाहं द्यूतमिच्छामि विदुरो न प्रशंसति । सैन्धवो नेच्छति द्यूतं भीष्मो न द्यूतमिच्छति,मैं जूआ खेलना नहीं चाहता था, विदुर भी उसकी प्रशंसा नहीं करते थे, सिंधुराज जयद्रथ भी जूआ नहीं चाहते थे और भीष्मजी भी द्यूतकी अभिलाषा नहीं रखते थे
na hāhaṃ dyūtam icchāmi viduro na praśaṃsati | saindhavo necchati dyūtaṃ bhīṣmo na dyūtam icchati ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “I did not wish for gambling; Vidura did not approve of it. The king of Sindhu (Jayadratha) too did not desire the dice-game, and Bhīṣma also had no longing for gambling.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that unethical actions like gambling are not legitimized merely by royal power or social momentum; wise elders and counsellors (Vidura, Bhīṣma) do not endorse them. It also highlights moral responsibility: even if one claims reluctance, allowing or enabling adharma still carries ethical weight.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the dice-game episode, stating that he himself did not want it and that respected figures—Vidura, Bhīṣma, and Jayadratha (Saindhava)—also did not desire or approve it, implying that the disastrous course was taken despite significant internal opposition.