Shloka 31
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुकक््त्वा मताक्षस्तान् ग्लहे सर्वानवस्थितान् । पराजयं लोकवीरानुकत्वा राज्ञां पृूथक्ू-पृथक्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktvā matākṣas tān glāhe sarvān avasthitān | parājayaṁ lokavīrān uktvā rājñāṁ pṛthak pṛthak ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: Nói xong như vậy, Śakuni—kẻ tinh thông nghệ thuật gieo xúc xắc—liền hướng về các vị vua anh hùng lừng danh đang ngồi trong đại sảnh, và lần lượt, từng người một, tuyên bố sự bại trận của các Pāṇḍava trong ván cược đã định.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma can be advanced through social theater: by publicly announcing outcomes and involving respected witnesses, a morally dubious act (gambling that targets a king’s weakness) is made to appear legitimate. It warns that ethical failure is often enabled not only by the wrongdoer but also by the court’s passive acceptance.
After speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira about wagering, Śakuni—expert with dice—turns to the assembled famous kings in the sabhā and proclaims, one by one, the Pāṇḍavas’ defeat in the gambling contest, setting the stage for the unfolding calamity of the dice game.