आहूयतां परं राजन्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अगत्वा संशयमहमयुद्ध्वा च चमूमुखे
Let the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, be summoned, O king; if he does not come, I shall have doubt, and if he does not play at the assembly.
अक्षान्क्षिपन्नक्षतः सन्विद्वानविदुषो जये। ग्लहान्धनूंषि मे विद्धि शरानक्षांश्च भारत
Whether learned or unlearned in victory, let him cast the dice unhurt; know, O Bhārata, that my dice are arrows, and the stakes are my bows.
अक्षाणां हृदयं मे ज्यां रथं विद्धि ममास्फुरम्
Consider the dice as my heart, the bowstring as my chariot, which stirs within me.
अयमुत्सहते राजच्छ्रियमाहर्तुमक्षवित्। द्यूतेन पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यस्तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
This skilled gambler is capable of seizing royal fortune from the sons of Pandu by dice; you ought to permit it.
स्थितोऽस्मि शासने भ्रातुर्विदुरस्य महात्मनः। तेन सङ्गम्य वेत्स्यामि कार्यस्यास्य विनिश्चयम्
I stand under the command of my noble brother Vidura; by consulting him, I will ascertain the resolution of this matter.
कृष्णादभ्याधिकः सोऽपि क्षत्ता बोद्धा विशाम्पते। केवलं धर्ममेवाह न तद्विजयसाधकम्
Even Vidura, who surpasses Krishna in wisdom, O lord of people, speaks only of dharma, not of what brings victory.
जयश्च धर्मतोपेतस्तथैव भरतर्षभ। तस्माद्विनयतो जेता तावुभौ च विरोधिनौ
Victory accompanied by righteousness is likewise esteemed, O best of Bharatas; therefore, the one who acts with humility will conquer, even against both adversaries.
व्यपनेष्यति ते बुद्धिं विदुरो मुक्तसंशयः। पाण्डवानां हिते युक्तो न तथा मम कौरव
Vidura, free from doubt, will dispel your judgment; he is devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, not so much to mine, O Kaurava.
नारभेतान्यसामर्थ्यात्पुरुषः कार्यमात्मनः। मतिसाम्यं द्वयोर्नास्ति कार्येषु कुरुनन्दन
A man should not undertake a task beyond his own capacity; there is no equality of intellect between the two parties in these affairs, O joy of the Kurus.
भयं परिहरन्मत्त आत्मानं परिपालयन्। वर्षासु क्लिन्नवटवत्तिष्ठन्नैवावसीदति
Avoiding fear, protecting oneself, one stands like a banyan tree soaked in rain, yet does not sink.
न व्याधयो नापि यमः प्राप्तुं श्रेयः प्रतीक्षते। यावदेव भवेत्कल्पस्तावच्छ्रेयः समाचरेत्
Neither disease nor death waits for one to attain excellence; as long as one is able, one should pursue what is good.
सर्वथा पुत्र बलिभिर्विग्रहो मे रोचते। वैरं विकारं सृजति तद्वै शस्त्रमनायसम्
In every way, I favor conflict with my sons who are strong; enmity produces distortion, and that is the weapon without injury.
अनर्थमर्थं मन्यसे राजपुत्र सङ्ग्रन्थनं कलहस्यातियाति। तद्वै प्रवृत्तं तु यथाकथञ्चित् सृजेदसीन्निशितान्सायकांश्च
You consider misfortune as fortune, O prince; the weaving of quarrel exceeds all bounds. Once begun, it may, by any means, produce sharp swords and arrows.
द्यूते पुराणैर्व्यवहारः प्रणीत- स्तत्रात्ययो नास्ति न सम्प्रहारः। तद्रोचतां शकुनेर्वाक्यमद्य सभां क्षिप्रं त्वमिहाज्ञापयस्व
In gambling, ancient custom prescribes conduct; there is no disaster nor conflict there. Let Shakuni's words be pleasing today; quickly command the assembly here.
स्वर्गद्वारं दीव्यतां नो विशिष्टं तद्वर्तिनां चापि तथैव युक्तम्। भवेदेवं ह्यात्मना तुल्यमेव दुरोदरं पाण्डवैस्त्वं कुरुष्व
Let the gateway to heaven be through gambling for us, which is fitting for those who walk that path. Thus, let it be equal for oneself; arrange the dice game with the Pandavas.
वाक्यं न मे रोचते यत्त्वयोक्तं यत्ते प्रियं तत्क्रियतां नरेन्द्र। पश्चात्तप्स्यसे तदुपाक्रम्य वाक्यं न हीदृशं भावि वचो हि धर्म्यम्
The words you have spoken do not please me; let what you desire be done, O king. Afterwards, you will regret having undertaken it; such speech is not righteous nor destined to be.
दृष्टं ह्येतद्विदुरेणै सर्वं विपश्चिता बुद्धिविद्यानुगेन। तदेवैतदवशस्याभ्युपैति महद्भयं क्षत्रियजीवघाति
All this has been perceived by Vidura, wise and guided by intellect and knowledge. That very thing, when disregarded, leads to great danger, destructive of the lives of Kshatriyas.
एवमुक्त्वा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी दैवं मत्वा परमं दुस्तरं च। शशासोच्चैः पुरुषान्पुत्रवाक्ये स्थितो राजा दैवसंमूढचेताः
Having spoken thus, Dhritarashtra, thoughtful, considering fate as supreme and difficult to overcome, loudly commanded the men according to his son's words, the king standing bewildered by destiny.
सहस्रस्तम्भां हेमवैदूर्यचित्रां शतद्वारां तोरणस्फाटिकाढ्याम्। सभामग्र्यां क्रोशमात्रायतां मे तद्विस्तारामाशु कुर्वन्तु युक्ताः
Let skilled men quickly prepare the splendid hall, adorned with a thousand pillars of gold and beryl, with a hundred doors and crystal gateways, extending a krosha in length.
श्रुत्वा तस्य त्वरिता निर्विशङ्काः प्राज्ञा दक्षास्तां तदा चक्रुराशु। सर्वद्रव्याण्युपजह्रुः सभायां सहस्रशः शिल्पिनश्चैव युक्ताः
Hearing his command, wise and capable craftsmen, without hesitation, swiftly constructed it; they brought all materials into the hall by the thousands, and the skilled artisans were ready.
कालेनाल्पेनाथ निष्ठां गतां तां सभां रम्यां बहुरत्नां विचित्राम्। चित्रैर्हैमैरासनैरभ्युपेता- माचख्युस्ते तस्य राज्ञः प्रतीताः
Then, in a short time, those trusted attendants described to that king the splendid, many-jeweled, wondrous assembly hall, adorned with golden, intricate seats, which had reached completion.
ततो विद्वान्विदुरं मन्त्रिमुख्य- मुवाचेदं धृतराष्ट्रो नरेन्द्रः। युधिष्ठिरं राजपुत्रं च गत्वा मद्वाक्येन क्षिप्रमिहानयस्व
Thereafter, King Dhritarashtra, wise among kings, spoke these words to Vidura, the foremost of ministers: 'Go quickly, in my name, and bring here Yudhishthira, the royal prince.'
सभेयं मे बहुरत्ना विचित्रा शय्यासनैरुपपन्ना महार्हैः। सा दृश्यतां भ्रातृभिः सार्धमेत्य मुहृद्द्यूतं वर्ततामत्र चेति
‘This assembly hall of mine is adorned with many jewels and marvels, furnished with costly couches and seats; let it be seen by him together with his brothers, and let a friendly game of dice be held here.’
मतमाज्ञाय पुत्रस्य धृतराष्ट्रो नराधिपः। मत्वा च दुस्तरं दैवमेतद्राजंश्चकार ह
Having understood his son's intention, King Dhritarashtra, ruler of men, considered this act to be difficult to overcome by fate, yet he did it.
अन्यायेन तथोक्तस्तु विदुरो विदुषां वरः। नाभ्यनन्दद्वचो भ्रातुर्वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
But Vidura, best among the wise, thus addressed unjustly, did not approve his brother's words, and spoke these words instead.
नाभिनन्दे नृपते प्रैषमेतं मैवं कृथाः कुलनाशाद्बिभेमि। पुत्रैर्भिन्नः कलहस्ते ध्रुवं स्या- देतच्छङ्के द्यूतकृते नरेन्द्र
‘O King, I do not approve this command of yours; do not act so. I fear the destruction of the family. When sons are divided, conflict is certain to arise—this, I suspect, will happen because of the dice game, O King.’
नेह क्षत्तः कलहस्तप्स्यते मां न चेद्दैवं प्रतिलोमं भविष्यत्। छात्रा तु दिष्टस्य वशे किलेदं सर्वं जगच्चेष्टति न स्वतन्त्रम्
‘O Kshatta, there will be no quarrel here unless fate itself turns against us; for all the world acts according to destiny’s will, not by its own choice.’
तदद्य विदुर प्राप्य राजानं मम शासनात्। क्षिप्रमानय दुर्धर्षं कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्
‘Therefore, Vidura, go now and, by my command, quickly bring here the mighty son of Kunti, Yudhishthira.’
ततः प्रायाद्विदुरोऽश्वैरुदारै- र्महाजवैर्बलिभिः साधु दान्तैः। बलान्नियुक्तो धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा मनीषिणां पाण्डवानां सकाशे
Then Vidura set out, with noble, swift, strong, and well-trained horses, sent by King Dhritarashtra, to the presence of the wise sons of Pandu.
सोऽभिपत्य तदध्वानमासाद्य नृपतेः पुरम्। प्रविवेश महाबुद्धिः पूज्यमानो द्विजातिभिः
Having traversed that road and reached the city of the king, the wise Vidura entered, honored by the twice-born.