Shloka 17
सभा-पर्व, अध्याय ६१ — द्रौपदी-प्रश्नः, सभाधर्मः, सत्यवचन-नियमः
सर्वे च पुरभेत्तारो नवमेघनिभा गजा: । एतद् राजन् मम धन तेन दीव्याम्यहं त्वया
sarve ca purabhettāro navameghanibhā gajāḥ | etad rājan mama dhana tena dīvyāmy ahaṃ tvayā ||
وہ سب کے سب شہر توڑ دینے والے ہیں؛ ان کی چمک نئے بارش کے بادلوں کے انبار جیسی ہے۔ اے راجن! یہی میرا مال ہے؛ اسی کو داؤ پر رکھ کر میں تمہارے ساتھ جُوا کھیلتا ہوں۔
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how immense royal resources and power can be misused when a ruler yields to vice (gambling). Wealth that should serve protection and dharma becomes an instrument of self-ruin when staked under delusion and social manipulation.
In the dice-hall episode, Yudhiṣṭhira continues wagering his possessions. Here he declares that he is staking formidable, city-destroying elephants—describing their cloud-like splendor—while addressing the opposing king in the game.