The Mahabharata, of ,Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ,BOOK 2  (Digvijaya Parva), 
SECTION LIX

Vaisampayana said,--"When the play commenced, all those kings with

Dhritarashtra at their head took their seats in that assembly. And, O

Bharata, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and the high-souled Vidura with

cheerless hearts sat behind. And those kings with leonine necks and

endued with great energy took their seats separately and in pairs upon

many elevated seats of beautiful make and colour. And, O king, that

mansion looked resplendent with those assembled kings like heaven itself

with a conclave of the celestials of great good fortune. And they were

all conversant with the Vedas and brave and of resplendent countenances.

And, O great king, the friendly match at dice then commenced.

Yudhishthira said,--"O king, this excellent wealth of pearls of great

value, procured from the ocean by churning it (of old), so beautiful and

decked with pure gold, this, O king, is my stake. What is thy counter

stake, O great king,--the wealth with which thou wishest to play with me?"

"Duryodhana said,--'I have many jewels and much wealth. But I am not vain

of them. Win thou this stake.'

Vaisampayana continued,--"Then Sakuni, well-skilled at dice, took up the

dice and (casting them) said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!'"

SECTION LX

Yudhishthira said,--"Thou hast won this stake of me by unfair means. But

be not so proud, O Sakuni. Let us play staking thousands upon thousands.

I have many beautiful jars each full of a thousand Nishkas in my

treasury, inexhaustible gold, and much silver and other minerals. This, O

king, is the wealth with which I will stake with thee!'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Thus addressed, Sakuni said unto the chief of

the perpetuators of the Kuru race, the eldest of the sons of Pandu, king

Yudhishthira, of glory incapable of sustaining any diminution. 'Lo, I

have won!'"

Yudhishthira said,--'This my sacred and victorious and royal car which

gladdeneth the heart and hath carried us hither, which is equal unto a

thousand cars, which is of symmetrical proportions and covered with

tiger-skin, and furnished with excellent wheels and flag-staffs which is

handsome, and decked with strings of little bells, whose clatter is even

like the roar of the clouds or of the ocean, and which is drawn by eight

noble steeds known all over the kingdom and which are white as the

moon-beam and from whose hoofs no terrestrial creature can escape--this,

O king, is my wealth with which I will stake with thee!'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words, Sakuni ready with the

dice, and adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!'

"Yudhishthira said,--'I have a hundred thousand serving-girls, all young,

and decked with golden bracelets on their wrists and upper arms, and with

nishkas round their necks and other ornaments, adorned with costly

garlands and attired in rich robes, daubed with the sandal paste, wearing

jewels and gold, and well-skilled in the four and sixty elegant arts,

especially versed in dancing and singing, and who wait upon and serve at

my command the celestials, the Snataka Brahmanas, and kings. With this

wealth, O king, I will stake with thee!'"

Vaisampayana continued,--'Hearing these words, Sakuni ready with the

dice, adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira. 'Lo, I have won!'

Yudhishthira said,--"I have thousands of serving-men, skilled in waiting

upon guests, always attired in silken robes, endued with wisdom and

intelligence, their senses under control though young, and decked with

ear-rings, and who serve all guests night and day with plates and dishes

in hand. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee!'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words, Sakuni, ready with the

dice, adopting unfair means said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!'

"Yudhishthira said,--'I have, O son of Suvala, one thousand musty

elephants with golden girdles, decked with ornaments, with the mark of

the lotus on their temples and necks and other parts, adorned with golden

garlands, with fine white tusks long and thick as plough-shafts, worthy

of carrying kings on their backs, capable of bearing every kind of noise

on the field of battle, with huge bodies, capable of battering down the

walls of hostile towns, of the colour of new-formed clouds, and each

possessing eight she-elephants. With this wealth, O king, I will stake

with thee.'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Unto Yudhishthira who had said so, Sakuni, the

son of Suvala, laughingly said, 'Lo, I have won it!'

Yudhishthira said,--'I have as many cars as elephants, all furnished with

golden poles and flag-staffs and well-trained horses and warriors that

fight wonderfully and each of whom receiveth a thousand coins as his

monthly pay whether he fighteth or not. With this wealth, O king, I will

stake with thee!'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"When these words had been spoken, the wretch

Sakuni, pledged to enmity, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won it.'

Yudhishthira said.--'The steeds of the Tittiri, Kalmasha, and Gandharva

breeds, decked with ornaments, which Chitraratha having been vanquished

in battle and subdued cheerfully gave unto Arjuna, the wielder of the

Gandiva. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee."

Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing this, Sakuni, ready at dice, adopting

unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira: 'Lo, I have won!'

Yudhishthira said,--'I have ten thousand cars and vehicles unto which are

yoked draught animals of the foremost breed. And I have also sixty

thousand warriors picked from each order by thousands, who are all brave

and endued with prowess like heroes, who drink milk and eat good rice,

and all of whom have broad chests. With this wealth, O king, I will stake

with thee.'

Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing this, Sakuni ready at dice, adopting

unfair means said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!'

Yudhishthira said,--'I have four hundred Nidis (jewels of great value)

encased in sheets of copper and iron. Each one of them is equal to five

draunikas of the costliest and purest leaf gold of the Jatarupa kind.

With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee.'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing this, Sakuni ready at dice, adopting

foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won it!'"

SECTION LXI

Vaisampayana said,--"During the course of this gambling, certain to bring

about utter ruin (on Yudhishthira), Vidura, that dispeller of all doubts,

(addressing Dhritarashtra) said, 'O great king, O thou of the Bharata

race, attend to what I say, although my words may not be agreeable to

thee, like medicine to one that is ill and about to breathe his last.

When this Duryodhana of sinful mind had, immediately after his birth,

cried discordantly like a jackal, it was well known that he had been

ordained to bring about the destruction of the Bharata race. Know, O

king, that he will be the cause of death of ye all. A jackal is living in

thy house, O king, in the form of Duryodhana. Thou knowest it not in

consequence of thy folly. Listen now to the words of the Poet (Sukra)

which I will quote. They that collect honey (in mountains), having

received what they seek, do not notice that they are about to fall.

Ascending dangerous heights, abstracted in the pursuit of what they seek,

they fall down and meet with destruction. This Duryodhana also, maddened

with the play at dice, like the collector of honey, abstracted in what he

seeketh, marketh not the consequences. Making enemies of these great

warriors, he beholdeth not the fall that is before him. It is known to

thee, O thou of great wisdom, that amongst the Bhojas, they abandoned,

for the good of the citizens a son that was unworthy of their race. The

Andhakas, the Yadavas, and the Bhojas uniting together, abandoned Kansa.

And afterwards, when at the command of the whole tribe, the same Kansa

had been slain by Krishna that slayer of foes, all the men of the tribe

became exceedingly happy for a hundred years. So at thy command, let

Arjuna slay this Suyodhana. And in consequence of the slaying of this

wretch, let the Kurus be glad and pass their days in happiness. In

exchange of a crow, O great king, buy these peacocks--the Pandavas; and

in exchange of a jackal, buy these tigers. For the sake of a family a

member may be sacrificed; for the sake of a village a family may be

sacrificed, for the sake of a province a village may be sacrificed and

for the sake of one's own soul the whole earth may be sacrificed. Even

this was what the omniscient Kavya himself, acquainted with the thoughts

of every creature, and a source of terror unto all foes, said unto the

great Asuras to induce them to abandon Jambha at the moment of his birth.

It is said that a certain king, having caused a number of wild birds that

vomited gold to take up their quarters in his own house, afterwards

killed them from temptation. O slayer of foes, blinded by temptation and

the desire of enjoyment, for the sake of gold, the king destroyed at the

same time both his present and future gains. Therefore, O king, prosecute

not the Pandavas from desire of profit, even like the king in story. For

then, blinded by folly thou wilt have to repent afterwards, even like the

person that killed the birds. Like a flower-seller that plucketh (many

flowers) in the garden from trees that he cherisheth with affection from

day to day, continue, O Bharata, to pluck flowers day by day from the

Pandavas. Do not scorch them to their roots like a fire-producing breeze

that reduceth everything to black charcoal. Go not, O king, unto the

region of Yama, with thy sons and troops, for who is there that is

capable of fighting with the sons of Pritha, together? Not to speak of

others, is the chief of the celestials at the head of the celestials

themselves, capable of doing so?"

SECTION LXII

"Vidura said,--"Gambling is the root of dissensions. It bringeth about

disunion. Its consequences are frightful. Yet having recourse to this,

Dhritarashtra's son Duryodhana createth for himself fierce enmity. The

descendants of Pratipa and Santanu, with their fierce troops and their

allies the Vahlikas, will, for the sins of Duryodhana meet with

destruction. Duryodhana, in consequence of this intoxication, forcibly

driveth away luck and prosperity from his kingdom, even like an infuriate

bull breaking his own horns himself. That brave and learned person who

disregarding his own foresight, followeth, O king, (the bent of) another

man's heart, sinketh in terrible affliction even like one that goeth into

the sea in a boat guided by a child. Duryodhana is gambling with the son

of Pandu, and thou art in raptures that he is winning. And it is such

success that begeteth war, which endeth in the destruction of men. This

fascination (of gambling) that thou has well-devised only leadeth to dire

results. Thus hast thou simply brought on by these counsels great

affliction to thy heart. And this thy quarrel with Yudhishthira, who is

so closely related to thee, even if thou hadst not foreseen it, is still

approved by thee. Listen, ye sons of Santanu, ye descendants of Pratipa,

who are now in this assembly of the Kauravas, to these words of wisdom.

Enter ye not into the terrible fire that hath blazed forth following the

wretch. When Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, intoxicated with dice, giveth

way to his wrath, and Vrikodara and Arjuna and the twins (do the same),

who, in that hour of confusion, will prove your refuge? O great king,

thou art thyself a mine of wealth. Thou canst earn (by other means) as

much wealth as thou seekest to earn by gambling. What dost thou gain by

winning from the Pandavas their vast wealth? Win the Pandavas themselves,

who will be to thee more than all the wealth they have. We all know the

skill of Suvala in play. This hill-king knoweth many nefarious methods in

gambling. Let Sakuni return whence he came. War not, O Bharata, with the

sons of Pandu!'

SECTION LXIII

Duryodhana said,--'O Kshatta, thou art always boasting of the fame of our

enemies, deprecating the sons of Dhritarashtra. We know, O Vidura, of

whom thou art really fond. Thou always disregardest us as children, That

man standeth confest, who wisheth for success unto those that are near to

him and defeat unto those that are not his favourites. His praise and

blame are applied accordingly. Thy tongue and mind betray thy heart. But

the hostility thou showeth in speech is even greater than what is in thy

heart. Thou hast been cherished by us like a serpent on our lap. Like a

cat thou wishest evil unto him that cherisheth thee. The wise have said

that there is no sin graver than that of injuring one's master. How is

it, O Kshatta, that thou dost not fear this sin? Having vanquished our

enemies we have obtained great advantages. Use not harsh words in respect

of us. Thou art always willing to make peace with the foes. And it is for

this reason that thou hatest us always. A man becometh a foe by speaking

words that are unpardonable. Then again in praising the enemy, the

secrets of one's own party should not be divulged. (Thou however,

transgressest this rule). Therefore, O thou parasite, why dost thou

obstruct us so? Thou sayest whatever thou wishest. Insult us not. We know

thy mind. Go and learn sitting at the feet of the old. Keen up the

reputation that thou hast won. Meddle not with the affairs of other men.

Do not imagine that thou art our chief. Tell us not harsh words always, O

Vidura. We do not ask thee what is for our good. Cease, irritate not

those that have already borne too much at thy hands. There is only one

Controller, no second. He controlleth even the child that is in the

mother's womb. I am controlled by Him. Like water that always floweth in

a downward course, I am acting precisely in the way in which He is

directing me. He that breaketh his head against a stone-wall, and he that

feedeth a serpent, are guided in those acts of theirs by their own

intellect. (Therefore, in this matter I am guided by my own

intelligence). He becometh a foe who seeketh to control others by force.

When advice, however, is offered in a friendly spirit, the learned bear

with it. He again that hath set fire to such a highly inflammable object

as camphor, beholdeth not its ashes. If he runneth immediately to

extinguish it. One should not give shelter to another who is the friend

of his foes, or to another who is ever jealous of his protector or to

another who is evil-minded. Therefore, O Vidura, go whither-so-ever thou

pleasest. A wife that is unchaste, however well-treated, forsaketh her

husband yet.'

"Vidura addressing Dhritarashtra, said, 'O monarch, tell us (impartially)

like a witness what thou thinkest of the conduct of those who abandon

their serving-men thus for giving instruction to them. The hearts of

kings are, indeed, very fickle. Granting protection at first, they strike

with clubs at last. O prince (Duryodhana), thou regardest thyself as

mature in intellect, and, O thou of bad heart, thou regardest me as a

child. But consider that he is a child who having first accepted one for

a friend, subsequently findeth fault with him. An evil-hearted man can

never be brought to the path of rectitude, like an unchaste wife in the

house of a well-born person. Assuredly, instruction is not agreeable to

this bull of the Bharata race like a husband of sixty years to a damsel

that is young. After this, O king, if thou wishest to hear words that are

agreeable to thee, in respect of all acts good or bad, ask thou women and

idiots and cripples or persons of that description. A sinful man speaking

words that are agreeable may be had in this world. But a speaker of words

that are disagreeable though sound as regimen, or a hearer of the same,

is very rare. He indeed, is a king's true ally who disregarding what is

agreeable or disagreeable to his master beareth himself virtuously and

uttereth what may be disagreeable but necessary as regimen. O great king,

drink thou that which the honest drink and the dishonest shun, even

humility, which is like a medicine that is bitter, pungent, burning,

unintoxicating, disagreeable, and revolting. And drinking it, O king,

regain thou thy sobriety. I always wish Dhritarashtra and his sons

affluence and fame. Happen what may unto thee, here I bow to thee (and

take my leave). Let the Brahmanas wish me well. O son of Kuru, this is

the lesson I carefully inculcate, that the wise should never enrage such

as adders as have venom in their very glances!"

SECTION LXIV

"Sakuni said,--'Thou hast, O Yudhishthira, lost much wealth of the

Pandavas. If thou hast still anything that thou hast not yet lost to us,

O son of Kunti, tell us what it is!"

"Yudhishthira said,--O son of Suvala, I know that I have untold wealth.

But why is it, O Sakuni, that thou askest me of my wealth? Let tens of

thousands and millions and millions and tens of millions and hundreds of

millions and tens of billions and hundreds of billions and trillions and

tens of trillions and hundreds of trillions and tens of quadrillions and

hundreds of quadrillions and even more wealth be staked by thee. I have

as much. With that wealth, O king, I will play with thee."

Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting

unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!'

'Yudhishthira said,--'I have, O son of Suvala, immeasurable kine and

horses and milch cows with calves and goats and sheep in the country

extending from the Parnasa to the eastern bank of the Sindu. With this

wealth, O king, I will play with thee.

Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting

unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!'

Yudhishthira said,--'I have my city, the country, land, the wealth of all

dwelling therein except of the Brahmanas, and all those persons

themselves except Brahmanas still remaining to me. With this wealth, O

king, I will play with thee.'

Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting

foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.'

"Yudhishthira said,--These princes here, O king, who look resplendent in

their ornaments and their ear-rings and Nishkas and all the royal

ornaments on their persons are now my wealth. With this wealth, O king, I

play with thee.

Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with his dice, adopting

foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won them.'

"Yudhishthira said,--'This Nakula here, of mighty arms and leonine neck,

of red eyes and endued with youth, is now my one stake. Know that he is

my wealth.'

Sakuni said,--'O king Yudhishthira, prince Nakula is dear to thee. He is

already under our subjection. With whom (as stake) wilt thou now play?"

Vaisampayana said,--"Saying this, Sakuni cast those dice, and said unto

Yudhishthira, 'Lo! He hath been won by us.'

Yudhishthira said,--"This Sahadeva administereth justice. He hath also

acquired a reputation for learning in this world. However undeserving he

may be to be staked in play, with him as stake I will play, with such a

dear object as it, indeed, he were not so!"

Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting

foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.'

"Sakuni continued,--'O king, the sons of Madri, dear unto thee, have both

been won by me. It would seem, however, that Bhimasena and Dhananjaya are

regarded very much by thee.'

"Yudhishthira said,--'Wretch! thou actest sinfully in thus seeking to

create disunion amongst us who are all of one heart, disregarding

morality.'

"Sakuni said,--'One that is intoxicated falleth into a pit (hell) and

stayeth there deprived of the power of motion. Thou art, O king, senior

to us in age, and possessed of the highest accomplishments. O bull of the

Bharata race, I (beg my pardon and) bow to thee. Thou knowest, O

Yudhishthira, that gamesters, while excited with play, utter such ravings

that they never indulge in the like of them in their waking moments nor

even in dream.'

"Yudhishthira said,--He that taketh us like a boat to the other shore of

the sea of battle, he that is ever victorious over foes, the prince who

is endued with great activity, he who is the one hero in this world, (is

here). With that Falguna as stake, however, undeserving of being made so,

I will now play with thee.'"

Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting

foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.'

"Sakuni continued,--'This foremost of all wielders of the bow, this son

of Pandu capable of using both his hands with equal activity hath now

been won by me. O play now with the wealth that is still left unto thee,

even with Bhima thy dear brother, as thy stake, O son of Pandu.

"Yudhishthira said,--'O king, however, undeserving he may be of being

made a stake, I will now play with thee by staking Bhimasena, that prince

who is our leader, who is the foremost in fight,--even like the wielder

of the thunder-bolt--the one enemy of the Danavas,--the high-souled one

with leonine neck and arched eye-brows and eyes looking askance, who is

incapable of putting up with an insult, who hath no equal in might in the

world, who is the foremost of all wielders of the mace, and who grindeth

all foes,'"

"Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice adopting

foul means, said unto Yudhishthira. 'Lo! I have won.'

Sakuni continued,--Thou hast, O son of Kunti, lost much wealth, horses

and elephants and thy brothers as well. Say, if thou hast anything which

thou hast not lost.'

Yudhishthira, said--'I alone, the eldest of all my brothers and dear unto

them, am still unwon. Won by thee, I will do what he that is won will

have to do.'"

Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting

foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.'

'Sakuni continued,--'Thou hast permitted thyself to be won. This is very

sinful. There is wealth still left to thee, O king. Therefore, thy having

lost thyself is certainly sinful.'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Having said this, Sakuni, well-skilled at dice,

spoke unto all the brave kings present there of his having won, one after

another, all the Pandavas. The son of Suvala then, addressing

Yudhishthira said,--'O king, there is still one stake dear to thee that

is still unwon. Stake thou Krishna, the princess of Panchala. By her, win

thyself back.'

"Yudhishthira said,--'With Draupadi as stake, who is neither short nor

tall, neither spare nor corpulent, and who is possessed of blue curly

locks, I will now play with thee. Possessed of eyes like the leaves of

the autumn lotus, and fragrant also as the autumn lotus, equal in beauty

unto her (Lakshmi) who delighteth in autumn lotuses, and unto Sree

herself in symmetry and every grace she is such a woman as a man may

desire for wife in respect of softness of heart, and wealth of beauty and

of virtues. Possessed of every accomplishment and compassionate and

sweet-speeched, she is such a woman as a man may desire for wife in

respect of her fitness for the acquisition of virtue and pleasure and

wealth. Retiring to bed last and waking up first, she looketh after all

down to the cowherds and the shepherds. Her face too, when covered with

sweat, looketh as the lotus or the jasmine. Of slender waist like that of

the wasp, of long flowing locks, of red lips, and body without down, is

the princess of Panchala. O king, making the slender-waisted Draupadi,

who is even such as my stake, I will play with thee, O son of Suvala.'"

Vaisampayana continued,--'When the intelligent king Yudhishthira the just

has spoken thus,--'Fie!' 'Fie!' were the words that were uttered by all

the aged persons that were in the assembly. And the whole conclave was

agitated, and the kings who were present there all gave way to grief. And

Bhishma and Drona and Kripa were covered with perspiration. And Vidura

holding his head between his hands sat like one that had lost his reason.

He sat with face downwards giving way to his reflections and sighing like

a snake. But Dhritarashtra glad, at heart, asked repeatedly, 'Hath the

stake been won?' 'Hath the stake been won?' and could not conceal his

emotions. Karna with Dussassana and others laughed aloud, while tears

began to flow from the eyes of all other present in the assembly. And the

son of Suvala, proud of success and flurried with excitement and

repeating. Thou hast one stake, dear to thee, etc. said,--'Lo! I have

won' and took up the dice that had been cast."