Shloka 4
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal
युधिष्ठटिर: सभास्तारो मत्स्यानामभवत् प्रिय: । तथैव च विराटस्य सपुत्रस्थ विशाम्पते,राजर्षि तृणबिन्दु और महात्मा धर्मके प्रसादसे पाण्डवलोग इस प्रकार विराटके नगरमें अज्ञातवासके दिन पूरे करने लगे। महाराज युधिष्ठिर राजसभाके प्रमुख सदस्य और मत्स्यदेशकी प्रजाके अत्यन्त प्रिय थे। राजन्! इसी प्रकार पुत्रसहित राजा विराटका भी उनपर विशेष प्रेम था। वे पासोंका मर्म जानते थे। जैसे कोई सूतमें बाँधे हुए पक्षियोंको इच्छानुसार उड़ावे, उसी प्रकार वे द्यूतशालामें पासोंको अपने इच्छानुसार फेंकते हुए राजा आदिको जूआ खेलाया करते थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sabhāstaro matsyānām abhavat priyaḥ | tathaiva ca virāṭasya saputrasya viśāmpate |
युधिष्ठिरः सभास्तारो मत्स्यानामभवत् प्रियः। तथैव च विराटस्य सपुत्रस्य विशाम्पते॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even during hardship and concealment, one may uphold dharma through restraint and appropriate conduct. Yudhiṣṭhira’s mastery of dice—once a cause of ruin—here becomes a controlled skill used to sustain a role without revealing identity, illustrating disciplined self-governance and the ethical demand of fulfilling one’s vow (ajñātavāsa) without endangering others.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito exile in Virāṭa’s city, Yudhiṣṭhira serves in the Matsya court, becomes beloved by the people, and earns special affection from King Virāṭa and his sons. He is portrayed as highly skilled in dice-play, able to cast dice as he wishes, and he uses this courtly role to pass the days of concealment successfully.