Mahabharata 4.13.4 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 4
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal
युधिष्ठटिर: सभास्तारो मत्स्यानामभवत् प्रिय: । तथैव च विराटस्य सपुत्रस्थ विशाम्पते
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sabhāstaro matsyānām abhavat priyaḥ | tathaiva ca virāṭasya saputrasya viśāmpate |
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Yudhiṣṭhira trở thành một bậc trụ cột trong triều đình Matsya và được dân chúng mến yêu. Cũng vậy, hỡi bậc chúa tể loài người, vua Virāṭa—cùng các con trai—đặc biệt đem lòng quý mến ngài.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even during hardship and concealment, one may uphold dharma through restraint and appropriate conduct. Yudhiṣṭhira’s mastery of dice—once a cause of ruin—here becomes a controlled skill used to sustain a role without revealing identity, illustrating disciplined self-governance and the ethical demand of fulfilling one’s vow (ajñātavāsa) without endangering others.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito exile in Virāṭa’s city, Yudhiṣṭhira serves in the Matsya court, becomes beloved by the people, and earns special affection from King Virāṭa and his sons. He is portrayed as highly skilled in dice-play, able to cast dice as he wishes, and he uses this courtly role to pass the days of concealment successfully.
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