Shloka 16
अक्षद्यूतप्रवेशः — Kali’s Entry and the Initiation of the Dice-Contest
कथं हाहं प्रतिश्रुत्य देवतानां विशेषतः । परार्थे यत्नमारभ्य कथं स्वार्थमिहोत्सहे,“मैं देवताओंके सामने प्रतिज्ञा करके विशेषत: परोपकारके लिये प्रयत्न आरम्भ करके अब यहाँ स्वार्थ-साधनके लिये कैसे उत्साहित हो सकता हूँ?
kathaṃ hāhaṃ pratiśrutya devatānāṃ viśeṣataḥ | parārthe yatnamārabhya kathaṃ svārtham ihotsahe ||
Bṛhadaśva nói: “Làm sao ta có thể—sau khi đã thề nguyền trước mặt chư thần, lại đặc biệt dốc sức vì lợi ích của người khác—mà nay, ngay tại đây, còn có thể khởi tâm mưu cầu tư lợi cho mình?”
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
A vow made in the presence of the gods binds one ethically; having begun an undertaking for others’ welfare (parārtha), it is improper to pivot to self-serving aims (svārtha). The verse upholds integrity, consistency in purpose, and fidelity to one’s pledged dharma.
Bṛhadaśva reflects aloud on the moral impossibility of abandoning a divinely witnessed promise. He emphasizes that since his effort was initiated for another’s benefit, he cannot now justify acting for personal advantage in the same matter.