Shloka 19

हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः

Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace

Devanagari script

द्यूतमेतत्‌ पुराकल्पे दृष्टं वैरकरं नृणाम्‌ । तस्माद्‌ द्यूतं न सेवेत हास्यार्थमपि बुद्धिमान्‌

Transliteration

dyūtam etat purākalpe dṛṣṭaṁ vairakaraṁ nṛṇām | tasmād dyūtaṁ na seveta hāsyārtham api buddhimān ||

Translation

毗度罗说：“自古以来，赌博便被看作在人间滋生仇怨之因。故智者不当近赌——纵为取乐亦不可。”

Word by Word

• द्यूतम्: gambling, game of dice
• द्यूतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly, in the past
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• कल्पे: in an earlier age/epoch
• कल्पे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दृष्टम्: seen, observed
• दृष्टम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• वैरकरम्: causing enmity
• वैरकरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैरकर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नृणाम्: of men, among people
• नृणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that (reason)
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• द्यूतम्: gambling
• द्यूतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• सेवेत: should not practice/engage in
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव्
• Form: Vidhi-linga (optative), Atmanepada, 3rd, Singular, Present (modal)

• हास्य: for amusement, for laughter
• हास्य: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हास्य
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• अर्थम्: for the sake/purpose
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• बुद्धिमान्: a wise man
• बुद्धिमान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• gambling (dyūta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Gambling is inherently prone to generate hostility and conflict; therefore the wise avoid it entirely, even when presented as harmless entertainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he warns from established precedent that gambling leads to enmity, urging restraint and ethical conduct to prevent social and familial rupture.