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 ||
Видура сказал: «Как во сне богатство то обретают, то теряют, так и победу и поражение в отношении имущества, поставленного на кон тем, кто не имеет на него законной власти, я считаю подобными сну. Услышав слова царя Гандхары (Шакуни), о куру, не отступайте от этой дхармы».
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.