पूर्णे शतसहस्रे तु विप्राणां भुञ्जतां सदा। स्थापितस्तत्र सञ्ज्ञार्थं शङ्खो ध्मायति नित्यसः
When a hundred thousand Brahmins were always eating there, a conch was placed to mark the occasion, and it was blown constantly.
मुहुर्मुहुः प्रणदतस्तस्य शङ्खस्य भारत। अनिशं शब्दमश्रौषं ततो रोमाणि मेऽहृषन्
As that conch was sounded again and again, O Bharata, I heard its unceasing noise, and my hair stood on end.
पार्थिवैर्बहुभिः कीर्णमुपस्थानं दिदृक्षुभिः। अशोभत महाराज नक्षत्रैर्द्यैरिवामला
The assembly, crowded with many kings who came to pay their respects, shone, O great king, like a spotless sky filled with stars.
सर्वरत्नान्युपादाय पार्थिवा वै जनेश्वर। ज्ञे तस्य महाराज पाण्डुपुत्रस्य धीमतः
All the kings, O lord of men, brought every kind of jewel to the wise son of Pandu, recognizing his greatness.
वैश्या इव महीपाला द्विजातिपरिवेषकाः। न सा श्रीर्देवराजस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च। गुह्यकाधिपतेर्वापि या श्री राजन्युधिष्ठिरे
The kings served like merchants, attending upon the twice-born; not even the wealth of the lord of the gods, or Yama, or Varuna, or the lord of the Guhyakas, compares to the splendor that was with King Yudhishthira.
तां दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रस्य श्रियं परमिक्रामहम्। शान्तिं न परिगच्छामि दह्यमानेन चेतसा
Having seen that supreme prosperity of the son of Pandu, I find no peace, my heart burning within me.
अप्राप्य पाण्डवैश्वर्यं शमो मम न विद्यते। अरीन्बाणैः शाययिष्ये शयिष्ये वा हतः परैः
Without attaining the sovereignty of the Pandavas, I will have no peace; I will lay my enemies low with arrows, or I will lie slain by others.
एतादृशस्य मे किं तु जीवितेन परन्तप। वर्धन्ते पाण्डवा राजन्वयं हि स्थितवृद्धयः
What is the use of life for me in such a state, O subduer of foes? The Pandavas prosper, while we remain as we were.
यामेतामतुलां लक्ष्मीं दृष्टवानसि पाण्डवे। तस्याटः प्राप्तावुपायं मे शृणु सत्यपराक्रम
Having seen this incomparable fortune of the Pandavas, O mighty one, hear from me the means by which I shall obtain it.
अहमक्षेष्वभिज्ञोऽस्मि पृथिव्यामपि भारत। हृदयज्ञः पणज्ञश्च विशेषज्ञश्च देवने
I am skilled in dice, O Bharata, and on earth as well; I know the hearts of men, I know the stakes, and I am expert in distinguishing the odds in gambling.
द्यूतप्रियश्च कौन्तेयो न च जानाति देवितुम्। आहूतश्चैष्यति व्यक्तं नित्यमेवाह्वयत्स्वयम्
The son of Kunti loves gambling, yet he does not know how to play; when called, he will surely come, for he himself always invites others.
नियतं तं विजेष्यामि कृत्वा तु कपटं विभो। आनयामि समृद्धिं तां दिव्यां चोपाह्वयस्व तम्
I will certainly defeat him, O mighty one, by employing deceit; I will bring that splendid wealth, so summon him to play.
एवमुक्तः शकुनिना राजा दुर्योधनस्ततः। धृतराष्ट्रमिदं वाक्यमपदान्तरमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by Shakuni, King Duryodhana then spoke these words to Dhritarashtra, without delay.
अयमुत्सहते राजञ्श्रियमाहर्तुमक्षवित्। द्यूतेन पाण्डुपुत्रस्य तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
This man is eager, O King, to seize the wealth of the Pandava by dice; therefore, you should permit it.
क्षत्ता मन्त्री महाप्राज्ञः स्थितो यस्यास्मि शासने। तेन सङ्गम्य वेत्स्यामि कार्यस्यास्य विनिश्चयम्
Kshatta, the wise counselor, under whose authority I stand, I will consult with him and determine the course of action.
स हि धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य दीर्घदर्शी परं हितम्। उभयोटः पक्षयोर्युक्तं वक्ष्यत्यर्थविनिश्चयम्
For he, placing dharma first, is farsighted and seeks the highest good; he will declare the proper resolution for both sides.
निवर्तयिष्यति त्वाऽसौ यदि क्षत्ता समेष्यति। निवृत्ते त्वयि राजेन्द्र मरिष्येऽहमसंशयम्
If Kshatta comes and persuades you to desist, then I will withdraw, O king; if you withdraw, I will surely die.
स त्वं मयि मृते राजन्विदुरेण सुखी भव। भोक्ष्यसे पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां किं मया त्वं करिष्यसि।। शम्पायन उवाच
So, O king, if I die, be happy with Vidura; you will enjoy the whole earth—what will you do with me?
आर्तवाक्यं तु तत्तस्य प्रणयोक्तं निशम्य सः। धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीत्प्रेष्यन्दुर्योधनमते स्थितः
Hearing those words, spoken with affection and distress, Dhritarashtra, following Duryodhana's counsel, spoke.
स्थूणासहस्रैर्बृहतीं शतद्वारां सभां मम। मनोरमां दर्शनीयामाशु कुर्वन्तुं शिल्पिनः
Let the artisans quickly build for me a great hall, adorned with a thousand pillars and a hundred doors, delightful and splendid to behold.
ततः संस्तीर्य रत्नैस्तां तक्ष्ण आनाय्य सर्वशः। सुकृतां सुप्रवेशां च निवेदयत मेऽशनैः
Then, having covered it entirely with gems, let the craftsmen bring it forth, well-made and easy to enter, and report it to me without delay.
दूर्योधनस्य शान्त्यर्थमिति निश्चित्य भूमिपः। धृतराष्ट्रो महाराज प्राहिणोद्विदुराय वै
Having decided it was for the sake of Duryodhana's peace, King Dhritarashtra sent Vidura.
अपृष्ट्वा विदुरं स्वस्यन नासीत्कश्चिद्विनिश्चयः। द्यूते दोषांश्च जानन्स पुत्रस्नेहादकृष्यत
Without consulting Vidura, no one ever made a decision; though knowing the faults of gambling, he was drawn by affection for his son.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विदुरो धीमान्कलिद्वारमुपस्थितम्। विनाशमुखमुत्पन्नं धृतराष्ट्रमुपाद्रवत्
Hearing this, wise Vidura, seeing the doorway to discord opened and the path to ruin begun, approached Dhritarashtra.
सोऽभिगम्य महात्मानं भ्राता भ्रातरमग्रजम्। मूर्ध्ना प्रणम्य चरणाविदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having approached the great-souled elder brother, Vidura bowed his head to his feet and spoke these words.
नाभिनन्दामि ते राजन्व्यवसायमिमं प्रभो। पुत्रैर्भेदो यथा न स्थाद्द्यूतहेतोस्तथा कुरु
I do not approve, O king, of this resolve of yours; let there not be division among the sons because of gambling—do not do this.
क्षत्तः पुत्रेषु पुत्रैर्मे कलहो न भविष्यति। यदि देवाः प्रसादं नः करिष्यन्ति न संशयः
O Kshatta, there will be no quarrel between my sons and yours, if the gods grant us their favor—there is no doubt.
अशुभं वा शुभं वापि हितं वा यदि वाऽहितम्
Whether it be auspicious or inauspicious, beneficial or harmful—
मयि सन्निहिते द्रोणे भीष्मे त्वयि च भारत। अनयो दैवविहितो न कथञ्चिद्भविष्यति
While Drona, Bhishma, and you, O Bharata, are present with me, this calamity, ordained by fate, will not occur in any way.
गच्छ त्वं रथमास्थाय हयैर्वातसमैर्जवे। खाण्डवप्रस्थमद्यैव समानय युधिष्ठिरम्
Go now, mount the chariot drawn by horses swift as the wind, and bring Yudhishthira to Khandavaprastha today itself.