Shloka 26
भूरिश्रवा: शान्तनवो विकर्णश्व॒ महारथ: । मा द्यूतमित्यभाषन्त शमो<स्त्विति च सर्वश:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — Bhūriśravāḥ Śāntanavo Vikarṇaś ca mahārathaḥ | mā dyūtam ity abhāṣanta śamo ’stv iti ca sarvaśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Bhūriśravā, putera Śāntanu, dan Vikarṇa, pahlawan kereta perang agung, bersuara seia sekata: “Janganlah ada perjudian; hanya dengan itu barulah keamanan dapat ditegakkan di mana-mana.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents gambling (dyūta) as a cause of disorder and suffering; rejecting it is portrayed as a practical dharmic step toward maintaining śama—public peace and stability.
During the events surrounding the proposed/ongoing dice-game in the royal assembly, notable figures voice opposition in unison, urging that the gambling should not proceed and that peace should be preserved.