Shloka 1
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra on Restraining Duryodhana (व्यास-धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
अनार (0) है नवमो<्ध्याय: व्यासजीके द्वारा सुरभि और इन्द्रके उपाख्यानका वर्णन तथा उनका पाण्डवोंके प्रति दया दिखलाना धृतराष्ट उवाच भगवन् नाहमप्येतद् रोचये द्यूतसम्भवम् | मन्ये तद्विधिना55कृष्य कारितो<स्मीति वै मुने,धृतराष्ट्रने कहा--भगवन्! यह जूएका खेल मुझे भी पसंद नहीं था। मुने! मैं तो ऐसा समझता हूँ कि विधाताने मुझे बलपूर्वक खींचकर इस कार्यमें लगा दिया
Dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | bhagavan nāham apy etad rocaye dyūta-sambhavam | manye tad vidhinā kṛṣya kārito 'smīti vai mune ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Revered sir, I too did not approve of this affair born of the dice-game. O sage, I believe that Fate dragged me along by force and made me an agent in this deed.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal responsibility and appeals to destiny: Dhṛtarāṣṭra claims he did not approve the dice-born wrongdoing, yet he also portrays himself as compelled by Fate—inviting reflection on how leaders may evade accountability by attributing moral failure to external forces.
At the opening of this chapter in the Vana Parva, Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks to a sage, expressing disapproval of the events that arose from the gambling match and suggesting that destiny forced him into participation, setting a reflective tone before the ensuing upākhyāna material.