Shloka 4
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
मध्यं चैव परार्थ च सपरं चात्र पण्यताम् | एतन्मम धन राजंस्तेन दीव्याम्यहं त्वया
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
madhyaṃ caiva parārdhaṃ ca saparaṃ cātra paṇyatām |
etan mama dhanaṃ rājan tena dīvyāmy ahaṃ tvayā ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Gawin nating pusta rito ang aking yaman—hanggang sa sukat na tinatawag na ‘madhya’, ‘parārdha’, at maging lampas pa roon. O Hari, ito ang aking kayamanan; sa pamamagitan nito ay makikipagsugal ako sa iyo.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment to play and status can erode discernment: even a righteous king can begin to treat immense wealth as a mere stake, signaling the ethical danger of gambling and the need for self-restraint (dama) and wise counsel.
In the dice-hall episode, Yudhiṣṭhira declares that he will stake his wealth—described through huge numerical measures—and proceed to gamble with the opposing king, marking the escalation of the wager that will lead to catastrophic loss.