Shloka 20
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
“कौरवों तथा अन्य भूमिपालो! आपलोग द्रौपदीके प्रश्नपर किसी प्रकारका विचार प्रकट करें या न करें, मैं इस विषयमें जो न्यायसंगत समझता हूँ, वह कहता हूँ ।।
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: “Kauravāḥ tathā anye bhūmipālāḥ! yūyaṃ Draupadyāḥ praśne kasya-cid-vidhasya vicāraṃ prakāśayatha vā na vā; aham asmin viṣaye yad nyāyasaṅgataṃ manye tad vakṣyāmi. Catvāry āhur naraśreṣṭhā vyasanāni mahīkṣitām—mṛgayāṃ pānam akṣān ca grāmye caivātiraktatām.”
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai kaum Kaurava dan para penguasa bumi yang lain! Sama ada kamu mahu menyatakan pendapat tentang pertanyaan Draupadī atau tidak, aku akan menyebut apa yang pada hematku adil dalam perkara ini. Orang bijaksana telah menyatakan empat keburukan yang membinasakan raja: berburu, minum arak, berjudi dengan dadu, dan ketagihan melampau terhadap kenikmatan nafsu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must guard against four destructive royal vices—hunting, intoxication, gambling, and excessive sensual indulgence—because they cloud judgment and undermine justice (nyāya) and dharma.
In the royal assembly context surrounding Draupadī’s legal-ethical question, the speaker addresses the Kauravas and other kings, saying that even if they remain silent, he will state what he considers the just position, introducing a moral framework by listing the classic vices that lead kings into wrongdoing.