Shloka 29
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
वैशम्पायन उवाच 488 अर निकृतिं समुपाश्रित: । शकुनिर्युधिष्ठटिरमभाषत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! यह सुनकर कपटी शकुनिने निश्चयपूर्वक अपनी जीत घोषित करते हुए युधिष्ठिससे कहा--'ये दाँव भी मैंने ही जीता”
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ari-nikṛtiṁ samupāśritaḥ śakunir yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah bersandar pada tipu daya terhadap lawannya, Śakuni pun berbicara kepada Yudhiṣṭhira, lalu dengan keyakinan yang diperhitungkan mengisytiharkan bahawa dialah pemenang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A victory achieved through nikṛti (fraud) is ethically tainted: it may succeed in the moment, but it violates dharma and becomes a cause of wider ruin. The verse highlights how adharma can masquerade as ‘winning’ when power and manipulation dominate.
During the dice-game episode in the royal assembly, Śakuni—using deceitful play—announces his win and speaks directly to Yudhiṣṭhira, pressing the outcome as final. It marks the tightening trap around the Pāṇḍavas through rigged gambling.