तेन चैव मयेनोक्ताः किङ्करा नाम राक्षसाः। हन्ति तां सभां भीमास्तत्र का परिदेवना
And by Maya, those Rakshasas called attendants were appointed; they protect that wondrous hall—what cause is there for lamentation?
यच्चासहायतां राजन्नुक्तवानसि भारत। तन्मिथ्या भ्रातरो हीमे तव सर्वे वशानुगाः
O king, what you said about their lack of allies is false; all your brothers are obedient to you.
द्रोणस्तव महेष्वासः सह पुत्रेण वीर्यवान्। मूतपुत्रश्च राधेयो दृढधन्वा महारथः
Drona, your mighty archer, together with his valiant son, and Radheya, the son of a charioteer, steadfast and a great warrior.
स एकः समरे सर्वान्पाण्डवान्सहसोमकान्। विजेष्यति महाबाहो किं सहायैः करिष्यसि
He alone, O mighty-armed, will defeat all the Pandavas and the Somakas in battle; what will you accomplish with allies?
भीष्मश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रो गौतमश्च महारथः। जयद्रथश्च बलावान्सोमदत्तस्तथैव च
Bhishma, the tiger among men, Gautama the great chariot-warrior, Jayadratha the powerful, and likewise Somadatta.
अहं च सह सोदर्यैः सौमदत्तिश्च पार्थिवः। एतैस्त्वं सहितः सर्वैर्जय कृत्स्नं वसुन्दराम्
I, along with my brothers, and Saumadatti the king; with all these, conquer the entire earth.
त्वया च सहितो राजन्नेतैश्चान्यैर्महारथैः। एतानहं विजेष्यामि यदि त्वमनुमन्यसे
With you, O king, and these other great warriors, I will defeat them all, if you approve.
एतेषु विजितेष्वद्य भविष्यति मही मम। सर्वे च पृथिवीपालाः सभा सा च महाधना
When these are conquered today, the earth will be mine, along with all the kings and that assembly rich in wealth.
धनञ्जयो वासुदेवो भीमसेनो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च द्रुपदश्च सहात्मजैः
Dhanañjaya, Vāsudeva, Bhīmasena, Yudhiṣṭhira, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Drupada with his sons—
नैते युधि पराजेतुं शक्या देवगणैरपि। महारथा महेष्वासाः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः
Even the hosts of gods could not defeat these in battle; they are great chariot-warriors, mighty archers, masters of weapons, and fierce in war.
अहं तु तद्विजानामि विजेतुं येन शक्यते। युधिष्ठिरं स्वयं राजंस्तन्निबोध जुषस्व च
But I know by what means they can be overcome; hear from me, O King, how Yudhiṣṭhira may be conquered—listen and accept my counsel.
अप्रमादेन सुहृदामन्येषां च महात्मनाम्। यदि शक्या विजेतुं ते तन्ममाचक्ष्व मातुल
If it is possible to defeat him, whether by vigilance or through the agency of his friends or other great souls, then tell me, uncle, how it may be done.
द्यूतप्रियश्च कौन्तेयो न स जानाति देवितुम्। समाहूतश्च राजेन्द्रो न शक्ष्यति तिवर्तितुम्
The son of Kuntī, Yudhiṣṭhira, loves the game of dice and does not know how to play; when challenged, the king will not be able to refuse.
देवने कुशलश्चाहं न मेऽस्ति सदृशो भुवि। त्रिषु लोकेषु कौरव्य तं त्वं द्यूते समाह्वय
I am skilled in gambling, and there is no one on earth, O Kauravya, or in the three worlds, equal to me; summon him to a game of dice.
तस्याक्षकुशलो राजन्नादास्येऽहमसंशयम्। राज्यं श्रियं च तां दीप्तां त्वदर्थं पुरुषर्षभ
I am expert with the dice, O King, and without doubt I will win for you his kingdom and that splendid wealth, O best of men.
इदं तु सर्वं त्वं राज्ञे दुर्योधन निवेदय। अनुज्ञातस्तु ते पित्रा विजेष्ये तान्न संशयः
Go and report all this to King Duryodhana; once your father gives permission, I will defeat them without doubt.
त्वमेव करुमुख्याय धृतराष्ट्राय सौबल। निवेदय यथान्यायं नाहं शक्ष्ये निवेदितुम्
You alone, Saubala, must inform Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the chief among doers, in the proper way; I am not able to report it myself.
अनुभूय तु राज्ञस्तं राजसूयं सुदुर्मतिः। `युधिष्ठिरस्य शकुनिर्दुर्योधसुसंयुतः
After experiencing that Rājasūya sacrifice of the king, the evil-minded Śakuni, together with Duryodhana, returned.
विवेश हास्तिनपुरं दुर्योधनमतेन सः। वाढमित्येव शकुनिर्दृढं हृदि चकार ह
By Duryodhana's counsel, Śakuni entered Hastināpura, and firmly fixed in his heart the thought of enmity.
अस्वस्थतां चतां दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पापकृत्। भारतानां च दुष्टात्मा क्षयाय हि नृपक्षयः
Seeing the distress of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son, the evil-minded one, and knowing the destruction of the Bhāratas would come from the ruin of kings—
प्रियकृन्मतमाज्ञाय पूर्वं दुर्योधनस्य तत्। प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमासीनं शकुनिः सौबलस्तदा
Śakuni, the son of Subala, who always acted for Duryodhana's benefit, then approached him, wise and discerning.
दुर्योधनवचः श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रं जनाधिपम्। उपगम्य महाप्राज्ञं शकुनिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing Duryodhana's words, Śakuni went to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the wise ruler of men, and spoke these words.
दुर्योधनो महाराज विवर्णो हरिणः कृशः। दीनश्चिन्तापरश्चैव तं विद्धि मनुजाधिप
O great king, Duryodhana is pale, thin as a deer, dejected, and absorbed in worry; know this, lord of men.
न वै परीक्षसे सम्यगसह्यं शत्रुसंभवम्। ज्येष्ठपुत्रस्य हृच्छोकं किमर्थं नावबुध्यसे
You do not properly perceive the intolerable threat from the enemy; why do you not understand the grief in your eldest son's heart?
एवमुक्तः शकुनिना धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। दुर्योधनं समाहूयं इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by Śakuni, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra summoned Duryodhana and spoke these words:
दुर्योधन कृतोमूलं भृशमार्तोऽसि पुत्रक। श्रोतव्यश्चेन्मया सोऽर्थो ब्रूहि मे कुरुनन्दन
Duryodhana, you are deeply afflicted and troubled at the root; if I must hear the reason, tell me, son of the Kurus.
अयं त्वां शकुनिः प्राह विवर्णं हरिमं कृशम्। चिन्तयंश्च न पश्यामि शोकस्य तव सम्भवम्
Shakuni has spoken to you, calling you pale, yellowish, and thin; yet as I reflect, I do not see any cause for your sorrow.
ऐश्वर्यं हि महत्पुत्र त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्। भ्रातरः सुहृदश्चैव नाचरन्ति तवाप्रियम्
Indeed, my son, all great prosperity is established in you; your brothers and friends do nothing that displeases you.
आच्छादयसि प्रावारानश्नासि पिशितौदनम्। आजानेया वहन्त्यश्वाः केनासि हरिणः कृशः
You wear fine garments and eat rice with meat; thoroughbred horses carry you—so why are you pale and thin?
शयनानि महार्हाणि योषितश्च मनोरमाः। गुणवन्ति च वेश्मानि विहाराश्च यथासुखम्
You have luxurious beds, delightful women, splendid houses full of virtues, and amusements as you wish.