Shloka 1
दुर्योधनस्य लज्जा-प्रायोपवेशविचारः
Duryodhana’s Shame and Consideration of Prāyopaveśa
हि >> आय न () आफ अप सप्तत्रिशर्दाधिकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: शकुनि और कर्णका दुर्योधनकी प्रशंसा करते हुए उसे वनमें पाण्डवोंके पास चलनेके लिये उभाड़ना वैशम्पायन उवाच धृतराष्ट्रस्य तद् वाक्यं निशम्य शकुनिस्तदा । दुर्योधनमिदं काले कर्णेन सहितो<ब्रवीत्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! धृतराष्ट्रके पूर्वोिक्त वचन सुनकर उस समय कर्णसहित शकुनिने अवसर देखकर दुर्योधनसे इस प्रकार कहा--
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: dhṛtarāṣṭrasya tad vākyaṃ niśamya śakunir tadā | duryodhanam idaṃ kāle karṇena sahito 'bravīt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing those words of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Śakuni—together with Karṇa—seized the moment and addressed Duryodhana. The verse sets the ethical tone of the episode: counsel is being offered not from impartial dharma, but from opportunistic calculation, as Śakuni and Karṇa prepare to steer Duryodhana toward a provocative encounter with the Pāṇḍavas in the forest.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral direction can be distorted when advice is driven by timing and self-interest rather than dharma. It frames Śakuni and Karṇa as counselors who exploit an opening to push Duryodhana toward actions likely to inflame conflict, illustrating the ethical danger of opportunistic counsel.
After Dhṛtarāṣṭra has spoken, Śakuni hears him and, with Karṇa present, chooses an opportune moment to speak to Duryodhana. This introduces the forthcoming speech in which they will praise and incite Duryodhana, urging him toward the Pāṇḍavas in the forest.