Shloka 30
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
शकुनिरुवाच एतत् पापिष्ठमकरोर्यदात्मानमहारय: । शिष्टे सति धने राजन् पाप आत्मपराजय:
śakunir uvāca: etat pāpiṣṭham akaror yad ātmānam ahārayaḥ | śiṣṭe sati dhane rājan pāpa ātma-parājayaḥ ||
ଶକୁନି କହିଲା—ରାଜନ୍! ନିଜକୁ ପଣ ରଖି ତୁମେ ଯେ ହାରିଗଲ, ଏହା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପାପମୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ। ଧନ ଶେଷ ଥିବା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ନିଜକୁ ହାରିବା—ଏହି ଆତ୍ମପରାଜୟ—ମହା ଅଧର୍ମ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within a flawed contest like gambling, staking one’s own person is portrayed as a severe ethical transgression; self-loss (ātma-parājaya) is condemned as worse than losing wealth, because it violates dignity, duty, and responsible kingship.
In the dice-game episode of the Sabha Parva, Śakuni comments on the moment when the king stakes himself and loses; he frames this as a grave sin, emphasizing that wealth still remained and therefore the self-wager was an especially blameworthy step.