Shloka 40
धर्मत: पाण्डुपुत्रा वै वनं गच्छन्ति निर्जिता: । ते च द्वादश वर्षाणि वने वत्स्यन्ति पाण्डवा:,'पाण्डव जूएमें पराजित होकर धर्मके अनुसार वनमें गये हैं। वे वहाँ बारह वर्षोतक रहेंगे
dharmataḥ pāṇḍuputrā vai vanaṃ gacchanti nirjitāḥ | te ca dvādaśa varṣāṇi vane vatsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Defeated in the game, the sons of Pāṇḍu proceed to the forest in accordance with dharma. There the Pāṇḍavas will dwell for twelve years—accepting the stipulated consequence and upholding the ethical order even in adversity.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wronged or brought low, one should uphold dharma by honoring agreed terms and accepting consequences; ethical restraint and fidelity to one’s word are presented as a higher strength than immediate retaliation.
After losing in the dice game, the Pāṇḍavas are declared defeated and, as required by the conditions of the contest, they depart for forest exile, where they are to live for twelve years.