Shloka 5
Bhīmasena’s Admonition to Yudhiṣṭhira on Rājya and the Ordering of Dharma–Artha–Kāma
Book 3, Chapter 34
अक्षांश्व दृष्टवा शकुनेर्यथावत् कामानुकूलानयुजो युजश्न । शक्यो नियन्तुमभविष्यदात्मा मन्युस्तु हन्यात् पुरुषस्य धैर्यम्,शकुनिके सम और विषम सभी पासोंको उसकी इच्छाके अनुसार ही ठीक-ठीक पड़ते देखकर यदि अपने मनको जूएकी ओरसे रोका जा सकता तो यह अनर्थ न होता, परंतु क्रोधावेश मनुष्यके धैर्यको नष्ट कर देता है (इसीलिये मैं जूएसे अलग न हो सका)
akṣāṁś ca dṛṣṭvā śakuner yathāvat kāmānukūlān ayujo yujaś ca | śakyo niyantum abhaviṣyad ātmā manyus tu hanyāt puruṣasya dhairyam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Vendo os dados de Śakuni caírem exatamente como ele desejava—fossem os lances justos ou injustos—se o eu pudesse ter sido contido do fascínio do jogo, esta calamidade não teria ocorrido. Mas a ira e a agitação destroem a firmeza da mente de um homem; por isso não consegui afastar-me da partida.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one recognizes deception and its consequences, inner agitation—especially anger (manyu)—can overpower discernment and destroy steadfastness (dhairya). Ethical living requires mastery of the mind; without self-restraint, knowledge alone cannot prevent ruin.
Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the dice match with Śakuni, noting that the dice seemed to fall exactly as Śakuni desired, whether the throws were even or odd. He laments that if he could have restrained himself from gambling, the disaster would not have happened, but his disturbed state of mind prevented him from withdrawing.