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.
देवर्षिर्वासवागुरुर्देवराजाय धीमते। यत्प्राह शास्त्रं भगवान्बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः। तद्दे विदुरः सर्वं सरहस्यं महाकविः
The divine sage Brihaspati, of noble intellect, taught the scripture to the wise king of the gods; Vidura, the great poet, knows all its secrets.
स्थितस्तु वचने तस्य सदाऽहमपि पुत्रक। विदुरो वापि मेधावी कुरूणां प्रवरो मतः
I always abide by his words, son; Vidura, the intelligent, is regarded as foremost among the Kurus.
उद्धवो वा महाबुद्धिर्वृष्णीनामर्चितो नृप। तदलं पुत्र द्यूतेन द्यूते भेदो हि दृश्यते
Or Uddhava, of great wisdom, honored among the Vrishnis, O king; therefore, son, enough of dice, for division is seen in gambling.
भेदे विनाशो राज्यस्य तत्पुत्र परिवर्जय
Division brings ruin to the kingdom; therefore, son, avoid it.
पित्रा मात्रा च पुत्रस्य यद्वै कार्यं परं स्मृतम्। प्राप्तस्त्वमसि तन्नाम पितृपैतामहं पदम्
Whatever is considered the highest duty of a son to his father and mother, you have attained that, the ancestral position.
अधीतवान्कृती शास्त्रे लालितः सततं गृहे। भ्रातृज्येष्ठः स्थितो राज्ये विन्दसरे किं न शोभनम्
Learned in scripture, accomplished, always cherished at home, eldest among brothers, established in the kingdom—what is not fitting for you in Vinda Lake?
पृथग्जनैरलभ्यं यद्भोजनाच्छादनं परम्। तत्प्राप्तोसि महाबाहो कस्माच्छोनसि पुत्रक
O mighty-armed one, you have obtained that highest food and clothing which is unattainable for ordinary people; why then, my son, do you grieve?
स्फीतं राष्ट्रं महाबाहो पितृपैतामहं महत्। नित्यमाज्ञापयन्भासि दिवि देवेश्वरो यथा
O mighty-armed one, your prosperous kingdom, inherited from your fathers and grandfathers, is great; you appear, always commanding, like the lord of the gods in heaven.
यादृशं च तवैश्वर्यं तदन्येषां सुदुर्लभम्। ये चोपभोगास्ते राजन्मया ते परिकीर्तिताः
Such is your sovereignty—rare indeed for others; and, O king, all those enjoyments have been recounted by me to you.
तस्य ते विदितप्रज्ञ शोकमूलमिदं कथम्। समुत्थितं दुःखकरं तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि
Therefore, O wise one, how has this root of sorrow, causing pain, arisen for you? You ought to tell me this.