Shloka 1
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Duryodhana Saṃvāda on Restraint and Rājānīti
Chapter 50
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ७ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ६७ श्लोक हैं) ऑपन--माज बक। अि्--छऋायज पजञ्चाशत्तमो<्ध्याय: दुर्योधनका धृतराष्ट्रको अपने दुःख और चिन्ताका कारण बताना जनमेजय उवाच कथं समभवद् द्ूतं भ्रातृणां तन्महात्ययम् | यत्र तद् व्यसन प्राप्तं पाण्डवैर्मे पितामहै:
Janamejaya uvāca
kathaṁ samabhavad dyūtaṁ bhrātṝṇāṁ tan-mahātyayam |
yatra tad vyasanaṁ prāptaṁ pāṇḍavair me pitāmahaiḥ ||
ଜନମେଜୟ କହିଲେ—ମୁନିବର! ଭାଇମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସେଇ ମହାବିନାଶକାରୀ ଦ୍ୟୁତ କିପରି ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେଲା, ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ମୋ ପିତାମହ ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନେ ଘୋର ବିପତ୍ତିକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହେଲେ? ତାହାର ଆରମ୍ଭ କଥା କହନ୍ତୁ।
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the dice-game as a “mahātyaya” (great catastrophe) and “vyasana” (ruin/vice), inviting reflection on how unethical choices and courtly complicity can trigger large-scale suffering—especially when a destructive practice like gambling is normalized among rulers.
Janamejaya, listening to the Mahābhārata account, asks the sage to explain how the brothers’ dice-game began—the event that led the Pāṇḍavas (his grandfathers) into severe calamity.