Shloka 31
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
द्यूतेन ते महाराज पुनर्दययूतमवर्तत । भवांश्व पुनराहूतो द्यूते नैवापनेष्यति,“महाराज! आप एक बार जूएके संकटसे बचकर दुबारा द्यूतक्रीडामें प्रवृत्त हो गये थे, अतः मैं समझता हूँ, यदि पुनः आपका द्यूतके लिये आवाहन हो तो आप उससे पीछे न हटेंगे
dyūtena te mahārāja punar dayayūtam avartata | bhavāṁś ca punar āhūto dyūte naivāpaneṣyati ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Hari, matapos kang minsang mailigtas sa panganib ng pagsusugal, bumalik ka pa rin sa dice. Kaya nauunawaan ko na kung muli kang tawagin sa laro, hindi ka uurong mula rito.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of relapse: once a person has yielded to a destructive habit like gambling, mere escape from its immediate consequences does not ensure reform. Without self-restraint and discernment, the same invitation will again overpower one’s judgment, leading to repeated downfall.
Vaiśampāyana comments on the king’s prior conduct: despite having been saved once from the crisis caused by gambling, he returned to the dice. From this pattern, the speaker infers that if the king is challenged again to gamble, he will not refuse.