Shloka 20
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
“कौरवों तथा अन्य भूमिपालो! आपलोग द्रौपदीके प्रश्नपर किसी प्रकारका विचार प्रकट करें या न करें, मैं इस विषयमें जो न्यायसंगत समझता हूँ, वह कहता हूँ ।।
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: “Kauravāḥ tathā anye bhūmipālāḥ! yūyaṃ Draupadyāḥ praśne kasya-cid-vidhasya vicāraṃ prakāśayatha vā na vā; aham asmin viṣaye yad nyāyasaṅgataṃ manye tad vakṣyāmi. Catvāry āhur naraśreṣṭhā vyasanāni mahīkṣitām—mṛgayāṃ pānam akṣān ca grāmye caivātiraktatām.”
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó Kauravas e demais governantes da terra! Quer queirais ou não expressar opinião sobre a pergunta de Draupadī, eu direi o que me parece justo nesta questão. Os sábios declararam quatro vícios ruinosos para os reis: a caça, a bebida, o jogo de dados e o apego excessivo aos prazeres sensuais.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must guard against four destructive royal vices—hunting, intoxication, gambling, and excessive sensual indulgence—because they cloud judgment and undermine justice (nyāya) and dharma.
In the royal assembly context surrounding Draupadī’s legal-ethical question, the speaker addresses the Kauravas and other kings, saying that even if they remain silent, he will state what he considers the just position, introducing a moral framework by listing the classic vices that lead kings into wrongdoing.