Shloka 31
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुकक््त्वा मताक्षस्तान् ग्लहे सर्वानवस्थितान् । पराजयं लोकवीरानुकत्वा राज्ञां पृूथक्ू-पृथक्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! पासा फेंकनेकी विद्यामें निपुण शकुनिने राजा युधिष्ठिससे दाँव लगानेके विषयमें उक्त बातें कहकर सभामें बैठे हुए लोक-प्रसिद्ध वीर राजाओंको पृथक्-पृथक् पाण्डवोंकी पराजय सूचित की
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktvā matākṣas tān glāhe sarvān avasthitān | parājayaṁ lokavīrān uktvā rājñāṁ pṛthak pṛthak ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞ ശേഷം, പാശം എറിയുന്ന കലയിൽ നിപുണനായ ശകുനി, സഭയിൽ ഇരുന്ന ലോകപ്രസിദ്ധ വീരരാജാക്കന്മാരുടെ മുമ്പിൽ, ഓരോരുത്തരായി പാണ്ഡവരുടെ പരാജയം പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma can be advanced through social theater: by publicly announcing outcomes and involving respected witnesses, a morally dubious act (gambling that targets a king’s weakness) is made to appear legitimate. It warns that ethical failure is often enabled not only by the wrongdoer but also by the court’s passive acceptance.
After speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira about wagering, Śakuni—expert with dice—turns to the assembled famous kings in the sabhā and proclaims, one by one, the Pāṇḍavas’ defeat in the gambling contest, setting the stage for the unfolding calamity of the dice game.