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.
स राजगृहमासाद्य कुबेरभवनोपमम्। अभ्यागच्छत धर्मात्मा धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्
Arriving at the royal palace, which resembled the mansion of Kubera, the righteous Vidura approached Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma.
तं वै राजा सत्यधृतिर्महात्मा अजातशत्रुर्विदुरं यथावत्। पूजापूर्वं प्रतिगृह्याजमीढ- स्ततोऽपृच्छद्धृतराष्ट्रं सपुत्रम्
That great-souled king, steadfast in truth and free from enemies, duly received Vidura with honor, and then asked after the welfare of Dhritarashtra and his sons.
विज्ञायते ते मनसोऽप्रहर्षः कच्चित्क्षत्तः कुशलेनागतोऽसि। कच्चित्पुत्राः स्थविरस्यानुलोमा वशानुगाश्चापि विशोऽथ कच्चित्
‘It is clear your mind is not at ease; I hope, Kshatta, you have come in good health. Are the king’s sons obedient to the aged one, and are the people also under control?’
राजा महात्मा कुशली सपुत्र आस्ते वृतो ज्ञातिभिरिन्द्रकल्पः। प्रीतो राजन्पुत्रगुणैर्विनीतो विशोक एवात्मरतिर्महात्मा
‘The great-souled king, together with his sons, dwells in well-being, surrounded by kinsmen and like Indra in splendor. He is pleased with the virtues of his sons, disciplined, free from sorrow, and content in himself, O great king.’
इदं तु त्वां कुरुराजोऽभ्युवाच पूर्वं पृष्ट्वा कुशलं चाव्ययं च। इयं सभा त्वत्सभातुल्यरूपा भ्रातॄणां ते दृस्यतामेत्य पुत्र
‘But, O son, the king of the Kurus, after first inquiring of your welfare and unchanging prosperity, has sent this message: “This assembly hall, equal in splendor to yours, should be seen by you and your brothers.”’
समागम्य भ्रातृभिः पार्थ तस्यां सुहृद्द्यूतं क्रियतां रम्यतां च। प्रीयामहे भवतां सङ्गमेन समागताः कुरवश्चापि सर्वे
‘Having gathered there with your brothers, O Partha, let a friendly game of dice be played and let there be delight. We are pleased by your coming together, and all the Kurus have assembled as well.’
दुरोदरा विहिता ये तु तत्र महात्मना धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा। तान्द्रक्ष्यसे कितवान्सन्निविष्टा- नित्यागतोऽहं नृपते तज्जुषस्व
‘Those skilled gamblers appointed there by the great-souled King Dhritarashtra you will see assembled, O king; I have come for this—accept it, O ruler of men.’
द्यूते क्षत्तः कलहो विद्यते नः को वै रोचतने बुध्यमानः। किं वा भवान्मन्यते युक्तरूपं भवद्वाक्ये सर्व एव स्थिताः स्मः
‘In this game of dice, Kshatta, there is no quarrel among us; who, being wise, would find pleasure in conflict? What do you consider proper? We all stand by your word.’
जानाम्यहं द्यूतमनर्थमूलं कृतश्च यत्नोऽस्य मया निवारणे। राजा च मां प्राहिमोत्त्वत्सकाशं श्रुत्वा विद्वञ्श्रेय इहाचरस्व
I know that gambling is the root of misfortune, and I have made every effort to prevent it; yet the king has sent me to you, having heard, 'O wise one, act here for the best.'
के तत्रान्ये कितवा दीव्यमाना विना राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रैः। पृच्छामि त्वां विदुर ब्रूहि नस्तान् यैर्दीव्यामः शतशः सन्निपत्य
Who else among the gamblers will be playing there, apart from the sons of King Dhritarashtra? I ask you, Vidura, tell us the names of those with whom we will be gambling, gathered in hundreds.