Shloka 26

Devanagari script

भूरिश्रवा: शान्तनवो विकर्णश्व॒ महारथ: । मा द्यूतमित्यभाषन्त शमो<स्त्विति च सर्वश:

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca — Bhūriśravāḥ Śāntanavo Vikarṇaś ca mahārathaḥ | mā dyūtam ity abhāṣanta śamo ’stv iti ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਸ਼ਾਂਤਨੁ-ਪੁੱਤਰ ਭੂਰੀਸ਼੍ਰਵਾ ਅਤੇ ਮਹਾਰਥੀ ਵਿਕਰਣ ਨੇ ਸਭ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਇਕੋ ਸੁਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹਾ—“ਹੁਣ ਜੂਆ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ; ਤਦ ਹੀ ਹਰ ਥਾਂ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹੇਗੀ।”

Word by Word

• भूरिश्रवाः: Bhūrishravas
• भूरिश्रवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरिश्रवस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शान्तनवः: son/descendant of Śantanu
• शान्तनवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तनव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विकर्णः: Vikarṇa
• विकर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मा: do not (prohibitive particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• द्यूतम्: gambling; dice-play
• द्यूतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• अभाषन्त: they spoke/said
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• शमः: peace; calm
• शमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्तु: let there be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वशः: everywhere; in every way; unanimously
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशस्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhūriśravā
• Śāntanu (via epithet Śāntanava)
• Vikarṇa
• dyūta (dice-game/gambling)
• śama (peace)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.