Shloka 13
नलो हाक्षेर्निर्जित: पुष्करेण पुनर्यशो राज्यमवाप वीर्यात् । प्राप्तास्तथा पाण्डवा बाहुवीर्यात् सर्वे: समेता: परिवृत्तलोभा:
nalo hākṣer nirjitaḥ puṣkareṇa punar yaśo rājyam avāpa vīryāt | prāptās tathā pāṇḍavā bāhuvīryāt sarveḥ sametāḥ parivṛttalobhāḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。「ナラ王はかつて賽の勝負でプシュカラに敗れた。だが自らの武勇によって、王国と名声の双方を取り戻した。同じくパーンダヴァたちも—貪りを離れ、親族一同と心を合わせ、腕力を頼みとして—戦場で驕り高ぶる敵を打ち破り、国土を奪還するであろう。ダルマに守られた獅子のごとき男たちは、必ずやドリタラーシュトラの子らを滅びへと導く。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses Nala’s recovery after a dice defeat as a moral precedent: loss caused by adharma (gambling/greed) can be overcome through personal valor and steadfast dharma. Greedlessness and righteous conduct are presented as protective forces that lead to the restoration of legitimate sovereignty.
Sañjaya, reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, predicts the Pāṇḍavas’ eventual victory. He cites the well-known story of Nala—defeated by Puṣkara in dice but later regaining kingdom and fame—to argue that the united, greed-free Pāṇḍavas will similarly reclaim their realm and destroy Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons in war.