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.
न वाच्यो व्यवसायो मे विदुरैतद्ब्रवीमि ते। दैवमेव परं मन्ये येनैतदुपपद्यते
My resolve need not be spoken; Vidura, I tell you this: I consider destiny to be supreme, by which this has come to pass.
इत्युक्तो विदुरो धीमान्नेदमस्तीति चिन्तयन्। आपगेयं महाप्राज्ञमभ्यगच्छत्सुदुः खितः
Thus addressed, wise Vidura, pondering 'This is not so,' approached the great sage by the river, deeply troubled.
कथं समभवद्द्यूतं भ्रातॄणां तन्महात्ययम्। यत्र तद्व्यसनं प्राप्तं पाण्डवैर्मे पितामहैः
How did the game of dice, that great disaster for the brothers, come about, where the Pandavas suffered misfortune at the hands of their elders?
के च तत्र समास्तारा राजानो ब्रह्मवित्तम। के चैनमन्वमोदन्त के चैनं प्रत्यषेधयन्
Who were the kings assembled there, O best knower of Brahman? Who approved of it, and who opposed it?
विस्तरेणैतदिच्छामि कथ्यमानं त्वया द्विज। मूलं ह्येतद्विनाशस्य पृथिव्या द्विजसत्तम
I wish you to recount all this in detail, O twice-born; for this is the root of the destruction of the earth, O best of Brahmins.
एवमुक्तस्ततो राज्ञा व्यासशिष्यः प्रतापवान्। आचचक्षेऽथ यद्वृत्तं तत्सर्वं वेदतत्त्वविद्
Thus addressed by the king, the powerful disciple of Vyasa, who knows the essence of the Vedas, then narrated all that had happened.
एवमुक्तस्ततो राज्ञा व्यासशिष्यः प्रतापवान्। आचचक्षेऽथ यद्वृत्तं तत्सर्वं वेदतत्त्ववित्
Thus addressed by the king, the powerful disciple of Vyasa, who knows the essence of the Vedas, then narrated all that had happened.
विदुरस्य मतिं ज्ञात्वा धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः। दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमुवाच विजने पुनः
Understanding Vidura's mind, Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, again spoke these words to Duryodhana in private.
अलं द्यूतेन गान्धारे विदुरो न प्रशंसति। न ह्यसौ सुमहाबुद्धिरहितं नो वदिष्यति
Enough of dice, O Gandhari's son; Vidura does not approve. That man of great wisdom will not speak anything unwise.
हितं हि परमं मन्ये विदुरो यत्प्रभाषते। क्रियतां पुत्र तत्सर्वमेतन्मन्ये हितं तव
For whatever Vidura speaks, I consider supremely beneficial; let all that be done, son, for I think it is good for you.