Shloka 9
पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानवर्णनम् / The Pāṇḍavas’ Departure for the Forest
Vidura’s Report and Portents
भीमार्जुनौ यमौ चैव स्थितौ ते नृप शासने । प्रश्न॑ ब्रूहि च कृष्णां त्वमजितां यदि मन्यसे
bhīmārjunau yamau caiva sthitau te nṛpa śāsane | praśnaṁ brūhi ca kṛṣṇāṁ tvam ajitāṁ yadi manyase ||
“O hari, naririto si Bhīma at Arjuna, at ang kambal na magkapatid (Nakula at Sahadeva), na nasa ilalim ng iyong utos. Kaya’t ikaw ang magsalita bilang tugon sa tanong ni Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). Kung inaakala mong hindi pa siya napapanalunan, ipahayag mo iyon.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Authority must be exercised to uphold dharma: when a moral-legal doubt arises (whether Draupadī can be treated as a won stake), the king is urged to speak clearly and justly rather than hide behind silence or procedure.
In the Kuru court after the dice-game, Draupadī’s pointed question about the legality of her being staked demands an answer. Vaiśampāyana reports that the king is reminded that the Pāṇḍavas are under his authority, so he should respond and, if he judges Draupadī not to be lawfully won, state so openly.