Shloka 3
Chapter 57: Duryodhana’s Accusation and Vidura’s Counsel on Anger and Truthful Speech
विदुर उवाच नाभिननदे नृपते प्रैषमेतं मैवं कृथा: कुलनाशाद् बिभेमि । पुत्रैर्भिन्नौ: कलहस्ते ध्रुवं स्था- देतच्छड़्के द्यूतकृते नरेन्द्र,विदुर बोले--महराज! मैं आपके इस आदेशका अभिनन्दन नहीं करता, आप ऐसा काम मत कीजिये। इससे मुझे समस्त कुलके विनाशका भय है। नरेन्द्र! पुत्रोंमें भेद होनेपर निश्चय ही आपको कलहका सामना करना पड़ेगा। इस जूएके कारण मुझे ऐसी आशंका हो रही है
vidura uvāca
nābhinanade nṛpate praiṣam etaṁ maivaṁ kṛthāḥ kulanāśād bibhemi |
putrair bhinnauḥ kalahaste dhruvaṁ sthād etac chaṅke dyūtakṛte narendra ||
Vidura disse: «Ó rei, não aprovo esta convocação. Não faças isso. Temo que traga a ruína de toda a dinastia. Ó soberano, quando os filhos se dividem entre si, o conflito certamente te enfrentará. É por causa deste jogo de dados que antevejo tal perigo.»
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that a ruler must restrain harmful impulses—especially gambling and partisan favoritism—because actions that divide heirs and inflame rivalry can destroy an entire lineage. Ethical governance requires foresight and refusal to endorse destructive counsel.
In the Sabha Parva context of the planned dice match, the king issues a summons connected with the gambling event. Vidura, acting as a moral counselor, refuses to endorse it and warns that the dice-game will split the princes and inevitably lead to strife and dynastic ruin.