Shloka 20
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
“कौरवों तथा अन्य भूमिपालो! आपलोग द्रौपदीके प्रश्नपर किसी प्रकारका विचार प्रकट करें या न करें, मैं इस विषयमें जो न्यायसंगत समझता हूँ, वह कहता हूँ ।।
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: “Kauravāḥ tathā anye bhūmipālāḥ! yūyaṃ Draupadyāḥ praśne kasya-cid-vidhasya vicāraṃ prakāśayatha vā na vā; aham asmin viṣaye yad nyāyasaṅgataṃ manye tad vakṣyāmi. Catvāry āhur naraśreṣṭhā vyasanāni mahīkṣitām—mṛgayāṃ pānam akṣān ca grāmye caivātiraktatām.”
毗湿摩耶那说道：“俱卢族诸位以及其他统御大地的君主啊！无论你们是否愿就德罗帕蒂之问表明意见，我都要说出我在此事上所认为公正者。智者曾宣示：君王有四种足以招致败亡的恶习——狩猎、饮酒、掷骰赌博，以及对声色欲乐的过度沉溺。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must guard against four destructive royal vices—hunting, intoxication, gambling, and excessive sensual indulgence—because they cloud judgment and undermine justice (nyāya) and dharma.
In the royal assembly context surrounding Draupadī’s legal-ethical question, the speaker addresses the Kauravas and other kings, saying that even if they remain silent, he will state what he considers the just position, introducing a moral framework by listing the classic vices that lead kings into wrongdoing.