Shloka 7
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
वैशम्पायन उवाच 52: 20/4864828 निकृतिं समुपाश्रित: । शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! यह सुनकर शठताके आश्रित हुए शकुनिने अपनी ही जीत घोषित करते हुए युधिष्ठिस्से कहा--'लो, यह दाँव भी मैंने ही जीता”
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: nikṛtiṃ samupāśritaḥ śakunir yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata—
Vaiśampāyana nói: Nương vào mưu gian, Śakuni lên tiếng với Yudhiṣṭhira, tự tuyên bố chiến thắng của mình—ngụ ý rằng cả món cược này nữa cũng đã thuộc về hắn.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of nikṛti (deceit): when a contest is driven by fraud, victory becomes morally empty and the victim is pushed toward further compromise. It foreshadows how adharma, once admitted into a royal setting, can rapidly erode judgment and dharma.
During the dice match in the Sabha, Śakuni—acting through trickery—speaks to Yudhiṣṭhira and announces that he has won the stake again, pressing the game forward and tightening the trap around the Pāṇḍavas.