शिवे देशे समे चैव न्यवसत्पाण्डवस्तदा। ततोराजन्समाहूय शोकविह्वलया गिरा
In a good and level place, the Pandava stayed; then, O King, he summoned Vidura, who spoke with a voice choked by sorrow.
तद्वाक्यं च सर्वस्वं धृतराष्ट्रचिकीर्षितम्। आचचक्षे यथावृत्तं विदुरोऽथ नृपस्य ह
Then Vidura related to the king all that Dhritarashtra intended, just as it had happened.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तेन धर्मराजोऽब्रवीदिदम्। न मर्षयाम्यहं क्षत्तः समाह्वानं व्रतं हि मे। स्वस्त्यस्तु लोके विप्राणां प्रजानां चैव सर्वदा
Hearing these words, the king of righteousness said: 'I do not resent the summons, Kshatta, for it is my vow. May there always be welfare in the world for the Brahmins and all people.'
प्रविवेश ततो राजा नगरं नागसाह्वयम्। धृतराष्ट्रेण चाहूतः कालस्य समयेन च
Then the king entered the city called Nagasahvaya, having been summoned by Dhritarashtra at the appointed time.
स हास्तिनपुरं गत्वा धृतराष्ट्रगृहं ययौ। समियाय च धर्मात्मा धृतराष्ट्रेण पाण्डवः
He went to Hastinapura and entered the house of Dhritarashtra; the virtuous Pandava met with Dhritarashtra.
तथा भीष्मेण द्रोणेन कर्णेन च कृपेण च। समियाय यथान्यायं द्रौणिना च विभुः सह
He met, as was proper, with Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kripa, and also with Ashvatthama, the illustrious one.
समेत्य च महाबाहुः सोमदत्तेन चैव ह। दूर्योधनेन सभ्रात्रा सौबलेन च वीर्यवान्
The mighty-armed one met with Somadatta, Duryodhana with his brothers, and the valiant Saubala.
ये चान्ये तत्र राजानः पूर्वमेव समागताः। दुःशासनेन वीरेण सर्वैर्भ्रातृभिरेव च
And the other kings who had already gathered there, along with the heroic Duhshasana and all his brothers.
जयद्रथेन च तथा कुरुभिश्चापि सर्वशः। ततः सर्वैर्महाबाहुर्भ्रातृभिः पिरवारितः
He met also with Jayadratha and all the Kurus; then, surrounded by his brothers, the mighty-armed entered.
प्रविवेश गृहं राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः। ददर्श तत्र गान्धारीं देवीं पतिमनुव्रताम्
He entered the house of the wise king Dhritarashtra and saw Gandhari, the queen devoted to her husband.
स्नुषाभिः संवृतां शश्वत्ताराभिरिव रोहिणीम्। अभिवाद्य स गान्धारीं तया च प्रतिनन्दितः
She was surrounded by her daughters-in-law, like Rohini by stars; he saluted Gandhari and was welcomed by her.
ददर्श पितरं वृद्धं प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम्
He saw his aged father, the lord whose wisdom was his sight.
राज्ञा मूर्धन्युपाघ्रातास्ते च कौरवनन्दनाः। चत्वारः पाण्डवा राजन्भीमसेनपुरोगमाः
The king smelled their heads, and those sons of Kuru—the four Pandavas, with Bhimasena at the forefront.
ततो हर्षः समभवत्कौरवाणां विशाम्पते। तान्दृष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रान्पाण्डवान्प्रियदर्शनान्
Then joy arose among the Kauravas, O lord of men, upon seeing the tiger-like Pandavas, pleasing to behold.
विविशुस्तेऽभ्यनुज्ञाता रत्नवन्ति गृहाणि च। ददृशुश्चोपयातारो द्रोपदीप्रमुखाः स्त्रियः
Having been permitted, they entered the houses adorned with jewels; and they saw the women led by Draupadi who had arrived.
याज्ञसेन्याः परामृद्धिं दृष्ट्वा प्रज्वलितामिव। स्नुषास्ता धृतराष्ट्रस्य नातिप्रमनसोऽभवन्
Seeing the splendid prosperity of Yajnaseni shining like fire, the daughters-in-law of Dhritarashtra were not very pleased.
ततस्ते पुरुषव्याघ्रा ग्तवा स्त्रीभिस्तु संविदम्। कृत्वा व्यायामपूर्वाणि कृत्यानि प्रतिकर्म च
Then those tiger-like men, after conversing with the women, performed their customary duties and necessary tasks.
ततः कृताह्निकाः सर्वे दिव्यचन्दनभूषिताः। कल्याणमनसश्चैव ब्राह्मणान्स्वस्ति वाच्य च
After completing their daily rites, all adorned with divine sandalwood, with auspicious minds, they had the Brahmins pronounce blessings.
मनोज्ञमशनं भुक्त्वा विविशुः शरणान्यथ। उपगीयमाना नारीभिरस्वपन्कुरुपुङ्गवाः
Having eaten delightful food, they entered their quarters, accompanied by women singing, like young princes.
जगाम तेषां सा रात्रिः पुण्या रतिविहारिणाम्। स्तूयमानाश्च विश्रान्ताः काले निद्रामथात्यजन्
That night passed for them, auspicious for those enjoying pleasure; praised, they rested and at the proper time gave up sleep.
मुखोषितास्ते रजनीं प्रातः सर्वे कृताह्निकाः। सभां रम्यां प्रविविशुः कितवैरभिनन्दिताः
Having spent the night, in the morning all performed their daily rites; they entered the splendid assembly, welcomed by gamblers.
प्रविश्य तां सभां पार्था युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः। समेत्य पार्थिवान्सर्वान्पूजार्हानभिपूज्य च
Entering that assembly, the Parthas, led by Yudhishthira, met all the kings and honored those worthy of respect.
यथावयः समेयाना उपविष्टा यथार्हतः। आसनेषु विचित्रेषु स्पर्द्ध्यास्तरणवत्सु च
As they were of equal age, they sat down as was fitting, on the various splendid seats and on the competitive carpets.
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वथ नृपेषु च। शकुनिः सौबलस्तत्र युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
When all the kings had taken their seats there, then Shakuni, son of Subala, spoke to Yudhishthira.
उपस्तीर्णा सभा राजन्सर्वे त्वयि कृतक्षणाः। अक्षानुप्त्वा देवनस्य समयोऽस्तु युधिष्ठिर
The hall is prepared, O King, and all are ready for you; let there be a game of dice, Yudhishthira, at the appointed time.
नितिर्देवनं पापं न क्षात्रोऽत्र पराक्रमः। न च नीतिर्ध्रुवा राजन्किं त्वं द्यूतं प्रशंससि
The rule in dice is deceit, not the valor of a kshatriya; nor is the rule fixed, O King—why do you praise gambling?
हि मानं प्रशंसन्ति निकृतौ कितवस्य हि। शकुने मैवं नोऽजैषीरमार्गेण नृशंसवत्
Indeed, they praise cleverness in deceit for the gambler; Shakuni, do not let us win by a cruel path.
यो वेत्ति सङ्ख्या निकृतौ विधिज्ञ- श्चेष्टास्वखिन्नः कितवोऽक्षजासु। महामतिर्यश्च जानाति द्यूतं स वै सर्वं सहते प्रक्रियासु
He who knows the count in deceit, who knows the rules, who is tireless in action, the gambler at dice, who is wise and knows the game—he alone endures everything in the procedures.
अक्षग्लहः सोऽभिभवेत्परं न- स्तेनैव दोषो भवतीह पार्थ। दीव्यामहे पार्थिव मा विशङ्कां कुरुष्व पाणं च चिरं च मा कृथाः
He who excels at dice overcomes the other; in this alone lies the fault, O Partha. Let us play, O King—do not hesitate, place your stake and do not delay.
एवमाहायमसितो देवलो मुनिसत्तमः। इमानि लोकद्वाराणि यो वै भ्राम्यति सर्वदा
Thus spoke the great sage Devala, the son of Asita: 'These are the gates of the worlds, through which one always wanders.'