Mahabharata 3.52.44 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 52, Shloka 44
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
अनक्षज्ञस्य हि सतो निकृत्या पापनिश्चयै: । भार्या च मे सभां नीता प्राणेभ्योडपि गरीयसी
anakṣajñasya hi sato nikṛtyā pāpaniścayaiḥ | bhāryā ca me sabhāṃ nītā prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyasī ||
“నేను అక్షక్రీడలో నిపుణుడను కాను; అయినా కపటముతో, పాపనిశ్చయముతో ఉన్న ఆ దుష్టులు నా ప్రాణాలకన్నా ప్రియమైన భార్యను సభలోకి లాగి తీసికొనివచ్చిరి.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how deceit and sinful intent can exploit the vulnerable, and it frames the public humiliation of a virtuous woman as a grave ethical collapse in the royal court—an emblem of adharma overriding justice and restraint.
The speaker laments that, although he was not skilled in gambling, opponents acting with fraud and wicked determination forcibly brought his wife—more precious than his life—into the assembly hall, intensifying the injustice of the dice-hall events.
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