Shloka 56
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
अशुभं वा शुभं वापि हित॑ वा यदि वाहितम् | प्रवर्ततां सुहृद्द्यूतं दिष्टमेतन्न संशय:
aśubhaṃ vā śubhaṃ vāpi hitaṃ vā yadi vāhitam | pravartatāṃ suhṛd-dyūtaṃ diṣṭam etan na saṃśayaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra: “Maging masama man o mabuti ang kahihinatnan, kapaki-pakinabang man o mapaminsala, hayaang magpatuloy ang larong sugal na ito ng mga buto sa pagitan ng magkakamag-anak. Walang alinlangan—ito’y dumating dahil sa tadhana.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral failure: Dhṛtarāṣṭra frames a risky, ethically dubious act (a dice match among relatives) as something to be allowed regardless of consequences, justifying it as ‘destiny.’ It illustrates how appealing to fate can become an excuse for avoiding responsibility and discernment (dharma-vicāra).
Dhṛtarāṣṭra gives consent for the dice game to begin among the Kuru relatives. Even while acknowledging that the outcome may be good or bad, beneficial or harmful, he permits it and declares it to be fate-ordained—setting the stage for the unfolding injustice and rupture within the family.