Shloka 23
सभा-पर्व, अध्याय 56: विदुरस्य द्यूत-निन्दा
Vidura’s Censure of Dicing and Warning to the Kurus
थोड़े ही समयमें तैयार हुई उस असंख्य रत्नोंसे सुशोभित रमणीय एवं विचित्र सभाको अद्भुत सोनेके आसनोंद्वारा सजा दिया गया। तत्पश्चात् विश्वस्त सेवकोंने राजा धृतराष्ट्रको उस सभाभवनके तैयार हो जानेकी सूचना दी ।। ततो विद्वान् विदुरं मन्त्रिमुख्य- मुवाचेदं धृतराष्ट्रो नरेन्द्र: । युधिष्छिरं राजपुत्रं च गत्वा मद्वाक्येन क्षिप्रमिहानयस्व
tato vidvān viduraṁ mantrimukhyaṁ uvācedaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭro narendraḥ | yudhiṣṭhiraṁ rājaputraṁ ca gatvā madvākyena kṣipramihānayasva ||
于是，人中之主持国王对毗度罗——诸臣之首、智者中的翘楚——说道：“你去见太子坚战，以我的话速速将他带到此处。”与此同时，那座瑰丽奇绝的大会堂已在短时之间备办停当：无量宝珠璀璨装点，奇妙金座森然陈列；忠信侍从已将竣工之讯禀告于王。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between rightful royal protocol and the potential misuse of power: a king’s summons, delivered through a trusted minister, can appear legitimate while serving hidden political aims. It also foregrounds Vidura’s role as a dharmic counsellor placed within a morally fraught court.
After the magnificent assembly hall has been prepared and the king informed, Dhṛtarāṣṭra instructs Vidura to go to Yudhiṣṭhira and quickly bring him to the hall by conveying the king’s message—setting the stage for events in the royal court.