Shloka 20
युधिछिर उवाच कथं वै मद्विधो राजा स्वधर्ममनुपालयन् | आहूतो विनिवर्तेत दीव्यामि शकुने त्वया,युधिष्ठिर बोले--शकुने! स्वधर्मपालनमें संलग्न रहनेवाला मेरे-जैसा राजा जूएके लिये बुलाये जानेपर कैसे पीछे हट सकता था, अतः मैं तुम्हारे साथ खेलता हूँ
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kathaṃ vai madvidho rājā svadharmam anupālayan | āhūto vinivarteta dīvyāmi śakune tvayā ||
యుధిష్ఠిరుడు పలికెను—శకునీ! స్వధర్మాన్ని అనుసరించు నన్నంటి రాజు, విధిగా ఆహ్వానించబడినపుడు ఎలా వెనుదిరుగగలడు? అందుచేత నీతో నేను ఆడుదును.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension within dharma: Yudhiṣṭhira frames acceptance of the dice-invitation as a matter of royal propriety and adherence to svadharma—responding to a formal summons and not appearing to shrink from a challenge—yet the broader narrative exposes how rigid attachment to social obligation can be exploited and lead to adharma and ruin.
In the sabhā setting, Śakuni has invited (summoned) Yudhiṣṭhira to a dice match. Yudhiṣṭhira explains that, as a king committed to his duty, he cannot withdraw once called; he therefore agrees to play with Śakuni, setting the stage for the catastrophic gambling sequence.