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.
देवनामिव ते सर्वं वाचि बद्धं न संशयः। स दीन इव दुर्धर्ष कस्माच्छोचसि पुत्रक
Everything is yours, as if you were among the gods; there is no doubt about it. Yet, though you are formidable, you appear dejected—why do you grieve, my son?
मात्रा पित्रा च पुत्रस्य यद्वै कार्यं परं स्मृतम्। प्राप्तस्त्वमसि तत्तात निखिलां नः कुलश्रियम्
Whatever is considered the highest duty of a mother and father toward their son, you have attained, dear one, along with all the glory of our lineage.
उपस्थितः सर्वकामैस्त्रिदिवे वासवो यथा। विविधैरन्नपानैश्च प्रवरैः किं नु शोचसि
You are surrounded by every pleasure, like Indra in heaven, with the finest foods and drinks—so why do you grieve?
निरुक्तं निगमं छन्दः षडङ्गान्यस्त्रशास्त्रवान्। अधीती कृतविद्यस्त्वं दशव्याकरणैः कृपात्
You have studied etymology, scripture, meter, the six limbs, and the science of weapons; you are learned, accomplished in knowledge, and skilled in the ten grammars, through Kripa.
हलायुधात्कृपाद्द्रोणादस्त्रविद्यामधीतवान्। भ्राताज्येष्ठः स्थितो राज्ये किमु शोचसि पुत्रक
You have learned the science of weapons from Halayudha, Kripa, and Drona; your elder brother holds the kingdom—so why do you grieve, my son?
पृथग्जनैरलभ्यं यदशनाच्छादनं बहु। प्रभुः सन्भुञ्जसे पुत्र संस्तुतः सूतमागधैः
You enjoy abundant food and clothing, which are unattainable for ordinary people; you are master, praised by bards and heralds.
तस्य ते विदितप्रज्ञ शोकमूलमिदं कथम्। लोकेस्मिञ्ज्येष्ठभागन्यस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः
Your wisdom is well known—so what is the root of this sorrow, in a world where you have the highest share? Tell me, as I ask.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मन्दः क्रोधवशानुगः। पितरं प्रत्युवाचेदं स्वमतिं सम्प्रकाशयन्
Hearing these words, he, slow-witted and driven by anger, replied to his father, revealing his own thoughts.
अश्नाम्याच्छादये चाहं यथा कुपुरुषस्तथा। अमर्षं धारये चोग्रं निनीषुः कालपर्ययम्
I eat and dress as a wicked man does; I bear intense resentment, wishing for the end of time.
अमर्षणः स्वाः प्रकृतीरभिभूय परं स्थितः। क्लेशान्मुमुक्षुः परजान्स वै पुरुष उच्यते
One who, overcoming his own nature, stands firm without resentment, desiring release from suffering and knowing others—he is called a man.