Shloka 203
Adhyāya 59: Vidura’s Admonition to Duryodhana after the Summons of Draupadī (सभा पर्व)
मदर्थ देविता चायं शकुनिर्मातुलो मम । दुर्योधन बोला--महाराज! दाँवपर लगानेके लिये धन और रत्न तो मैं दूँगा; परंतु मेरी ओरसे खेलेंगे ये मेरे मामा शकुनि
madarthe devitā cāyaṃ śakunir mātulo mama |
难敌说道：“大王！为我之故，沙昆尼——我的舅父——也将出面参赌。我会拿出财富与珠宝作为赌注；但替我掷骰的，将是我的舅父沙昆尼。”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral evasion: by funding the wager while letting Shakuni play, Duryodhana tries to gain the fruits of a questionable act without bearing full personal accountability. It underscores how unethical intentions often operate through intermediaries, blurring responsibility while intensifying harm.
In the royal assembly context of the dice match, Duryodhana declares that he will supply the valuables to be wagered, but Shakuni—renowned for skill and trickery with dice—will play on his behalf, setting the stage for the manipulative gambling episode against the Pandavas.