Shloka 8
विदुर-धृतराष्ट्रसंवादः
Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Dialogue on Rajadharma and Restitution
कच्चिन्नायं वचनात् सौबलस्य समाह्दाता देवनायोपयात: । कच्चित् क्षुद्र: शकुनिर्नायुधानि जेष्यत्यस्मान् पुनरेवाक्षवत्याम्,'ये शकुनिके कहनेसे हमें फिर जूआ खेलनेके लिये बुलाने तो नहीं आ रहे हैं। कहीं नीच शकुनि हमें फिर द्यूत-सभामें बुलाकर हमारे आयुधोंको तो जीत नहीं लेगा
kaccin nāyaṃ vacanāt saubalasya samāhvātā devanāyopayātaḥ | kaccit kṣudraḥ śakunir nāyudhāni jeṣyaty asmān punar evākṣavatyām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Has no messenger come here at the bidding of the Saubala, summoning us again to the game of dice? Might that petty Shakuni once more, in the dice-hall, contrive to win away our weapons from us?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical vigilance: once a community has suffered from deceitful gambling, prudence and self-restraint are required to avoid being drawn again into the same adharma. It also underscores how manipulation can target a warrior’s honor and resources—here, even weapons—through seemingly ‘legal’ but morally corrupt contests.
In the Vana Parva context after the disastrous dice-game, there is anxious suspicion that Shakuni (called Saubala) may be sending someone to summon the exiled party back to another dice match. The speaker fears Shakuni’s trickery could again dispossess them—this time even of their arms—by luring them into the dice-hall.