Mahabharata 9.5.7 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 7
शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command
राज्याद् विनिकृतो<स्माभि: कथं सो<स्मासु विश्वसेत् । अक्षयूते च नृपतिर्जितोडस्माभिमहाधन:
rājyād vinikṛto ’smābhiḥ kathaṃ so ’smāsu viśvaset | akṣayūte ca nṛpatir jito ’smābhir mahādhanaḥ ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்— நாங்களே அவனை அரசாட்சியிலிருந்து விலக்கினோம்; அப்படியிருக்க அவன் எங்களை எவ்வாறு நம்புவான்? மேலும் சூதாட்டத்திலும் அந்தப் பெருஞ்செல்வ அரசன் நம்மாலேயே தோற்கடிக்கப்பட்டான்.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wrongdoing destroys moral credibility: those who dispossess and humiliate another—especially through deceitful means like the dice-game—cannot reasonably expect trust. The verse highlights the ethical consequence of adharma: loss of confidence and legitimacy.
Sañjaya reflects on the Kauravas’ past actions: they took away the king’s realm and defeated him in the dice-game. He argues that, given these injuries, it is natural that the wronged king would not trust them.
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