Shloka 8
Vidura Leaves Hastināpura and Meets Uddhava
Vidura’s Tīrtha-yātrā Begins
द्यूते त्वधर्मेण जितस्य साधो: सत्यावलम्बस्य वनं गतस्य । न याचतोऽदात्समयेन दायं तमोजुषाणो यदजातशत्रो: ॥ ८ ॥
dyūte tv adharmeṇa jitasya sādhoḥ satyāvalambasya vanaṁ gatasya na yācato ’dāt samayena dāyaṁ tamo-juṣāṇo yad ajāta-śatroḥ
Yudhiṣṭhira, the saintly Ajātaśatru, was unjustly defeated in gambling by adharma; steadfast in truth, he went to the forest. When, in due time, he returned and begged his rightful share, Dhṛtarāṣṭra—overwhelmed by delusion—refused to grant it.
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was the rightful heir to his father’s kingdom. But just to favor his own sons, headed by Duryodhana, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s uncle, adopted various unfair means to cheat his nephews of their rightful share of the kingdom. At last the Pāṇḍavas demanded only five villages, one for each of the five brothers, but that was also refused by the usurpers. This incident led to the War of Kurukṣetra. The Battle of Kurukṣetra, therefore, was induced by the Kurus, and not the Pāṇḍavas.
FAQs
This verse says Yudhishthira was defeated by adharma in gambling and sent to the forest, and Dhritarashtra—overcome by tamas—still did not give him his rightful share at the agreed time, even though Yudhishthira did not beg.
Vidura highlights that Dhritarashtra’s refusal to give the Pandavas their due was driven by tamas—moral blindness and attachment—showing how irreligion can control a ruler’s decisions.
The verse presents truthfulness and dignity under injustice—doing what is right without becoming petty or begging for what is due—as a model for ethical conduct even when others act unfairly.