Shloka 34
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
इच्छतां किल नामाहं जीवाम्येषां महीक्षिताम् । सो<5हं न गणयाम्येतांस्तृणेनापि नराधिपान्
icchatāṃ kila nāmāhaṃ jīvāmy eṣāṃ mahīkṣitām | so 'haṃ na gaṇayāmy etāṃs tṛṇenāpi narādhipān |
“Quả thật, người ta nói ta sống chỉ nhờ ý muốn của các vua này. Nhưng ta chẳng kể những bậc quân vương ấy đáng giá đến một cọng cỏ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates the adharma of arrogance: belittling others—especially peers in a public assembly—undermines dignity, provokes conflict, and violates the ethical restraint expected of rulers and speakers.
In the royal assembly context, a speaker (reported by Vaiśaṃpāyana) voices contempt for the gathered kings, claiming dependence on their will yet dismissing them as worthless—an insult that heightens tension in the Sabha setting.