Shloka 23
Dyūta-kathā-praśnaḥ — Inquiry into the Dice-Game Calamity
कालेन निर्मितस्तात को ममार्थो5स्ति जीवत: । एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं फाल्गुन: प्रत्यभाषत
kālena nirmitas tāta ko mamārtho 'sti jīvataḥ | evaṃ bruvantaṃ rājānaṃ phālgunaḥ pratyabhāṣata ||
“اے عزیز! جب سب کچھ زمانہ (کال) ہی نے بنایا اور اسی کے حکم سے چلتا ہے تو میرے جیتے رہنے کا کیا مقصد؟” یوں مایوسی سے کہتے ہوئے راجہ کو فالگن (ارجن) نے جواب دیا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral-psychological crisis: the king attributes events to Kāla (Time) and questions the value of striving while alive. It sets up the counterpoint—Arjuna’s response—inviting reflection on how dharma balances acceptance of time’s power with responsible action.
The narrator reports that the king, speaking in a despondent, fatalistic tone (“all is made by Time; what purpose is left for me?”), is answered by Phālguna (Arjuna), indicating a forthcoming counsel or corrective reply.