Shloka 42
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
अयमुत्सहते राजज्छियमाहर्तुमक्षवित् । द्यूतेन पाण्डुपुत्रस्य तदनुज्ञातुमहसि
ayam utsahate rājan chriyam āhartum akṣavit | dyūtena pāṇḍuputrasya tad anu-jñātum arhasi vaiśampāyana uvāca ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Tâu Đại vương, kẻ tinh thông xúc xắc này đang hăm hở đoạt lấy vận may vương giả của con trai Pāṇḍu bằng con đường cờ bạc. Vì thế, bệ hạ nên ban phép cho hắn.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical failure: using gambling as a calculated instrument to dispossess a rightful king. It underscores how royal authority, when used to authorize deceitful means, becomes complicit in adharma.
In the lead-up to the dice match, the Kaurava side presents Śakuni as a master of dice who is ready to win away Yudhiṣṭhira’s royal prosperity. The speaker urges the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) to grant permission for this plan.