Shloka 7
Adhyāya 59: Vidura’s Admonition to Duryodhana after the Summons of Draupadī (सभा पर्व)
शकुनिरुवाच यो वेत्ति संख्यां निकृती विधिज्ञ- श्रेष्टास्वखिन्न: कितवो$क्षजासु । महामतिर्यश्न जानाति द्यूतं स वै सर्व सहते प्रक्रियासु
śakunir uvāca—yo vetti saṅkhyāṃ nikṛtī vidhijñaḥ śreṣṭāsv akhinnaḥ kitavo ’kṣajāsū | mahāmatir yaś ca jānāti dyūtaṃ sa vai sarvaṃ sahate prakriyāsu ||
ଶକୁନି କହିଲା—ଯେ ପାଶା କେଉଁ ସଂଖ୍ୟାରେ ପଡିବ ତାହା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଜାଣେ, ଯେ ନିୟମ ଜାଣେ ଓ ଛଳର କଳାରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ, ଯେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପ୍ରତିଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱୀ ସାମ୍ନାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ହତୋତ୍ସାହ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ, ଏବଂ ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ବୁଦ୍ଧିରେ ଦ୍ୟୁତର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟା ଜାଣେ—ସେଇ ହେଉଛି ସତ୍ୟ ଜୁଆରି; ଖେଳରେ ଉଠୁଥିବା ସମସ୍ତ କପଟ ଚେଷ୍ଟାକୁ ସେ ସହି ମଧ୍ୟ ମାତ୍ ଦେଇପାରେ।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘expertise’ in gambling as mastery of prediction, procedure, and deception—highlighting how a practice rooted in trickery can masquerade as skill. In the ethical context of the Sabha, it implicitly exposes gambling as a domain where adharma (manipulation and fraud) is normalized and where the righteous can be trapped by formal rules and social pressure.
In the Kuru court during the dice-match episode, Śakuni speaks about what makes a ‘real’ dice-player—someone who anticipates outcomes, knows the rules, and can withstand or deploy deceit in the course of play. This sets the tone for the impending exploitation of Yudhiṣṭhira through a rigged and strategically manipulated game.