Shloka 51

Devanagari script

अपृष्टवा विदुरं स्वस्य नासीत्‌ कश्रिद्‌ विनिश्चय: । द्यूते दोषांश्न जानन्‌ स पुत्रस्नेहादकृष्यत,विदुरसे पूछे बिना उनका कोई भी निश्चय नहीं होता था। जूएके दोषोंको जानते हुए भी वे पुत्रस्नेहहे उसकी ओर आकृष्ट हो गये थे

Transliteration

apṛṣṭvā viduraṃ svasya nāsīt kaścid viniścayaḥ | dyūte doṣāṃś ca jānan sa putrasnehād akṛṣyata ||

Translation

विदुरांना न विचारता त्यांचा कोणताही निश्चय ठाम होत नसे. जुगारातील दोष जाणूनही पुत्रस्नेहामुळे ते त्याकडे ओढले गेले.

Word by Word

अपृष्ट्वाhaving not asked

विदुरम्Vidura

स्वस्यof his own (of him)

नnot

आसीत्was

कश्चित्any (one/thing)

विनिश्चयःdecision, determination

द्यूतेin gambling / in the dice-game

दोषान्faults, evils

जानन्knowing

सःhe

पुत्रस्नेहात्from/owing to affection for (his) sons

अकृष्यतwas drawn/attracted

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vidura

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

dyūta (dice-game)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when one knows an action is harmful (such as gambling), attachment—especially parental affection—can overpower discernment. The verse also highlights the ethical necessity of seeking wise counsel (Vidura) before making consequential decisions.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s dependence on Vidura for sound judgment, yet shows how Dhṛtarāṣṭra, despite recognizing the dangers of the dice-game, becomes inclined toward it due to affection for his son (Duryodhana), setting the stage for the unfolding crisis.