Shloka 19
पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानवर्णनम् / The Pāṇḍavas’ Departure for the Forest
Vidura’s Report and Portents
स्वप्ने यथैतद् विजितं धन स्या- देवं मनन््ये यस्य दीव्यत्यनीश: । गान्धारराजस्य वचो निशम्य धर्मादस्मात् कुरवो मापयात
svapne yathaitad vijitaṃ dhanaṃ syād evaṃ manye yasya dīvyaty anīśaḥ | gāndhārarājasya vaco niśamya dharmād asmāt kuravo māpayāta ||
Vidura said: “Just as wealth is won or lost in a dream, so I regard the winning and losing of property staked by one who has no rightful power over it. Having heard the words of the king of Gandhāra (Śakuni), O Kurus, do not fall away from this dharma.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A wager made by someone lacking rightful authority over the stake is ethically and juridically void; its ‘win’ or ‘loss’ is as unreal as a dream. Therefore the Kurus should not let Śakuni’s words push them into adharma.
In the dice-hall episode, Vidura rebukes the proceedings: after Yudhiṣṭhira has already lost his own freedom, further staking (especially of others) lacks proper entitlement. Vidura urges the Kuru assembly to resist Śakuni’s manipulative counsel and remain within dharma.