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.'
इदं वै देवनं पापं निकृत्या कितवैः सह। धर्मेण तु जयो युद्धे तत्परं न तु देवनम्
This gambling is indeed sinful, done with deceit among gamblers; victory in battle by righteousness is supreme, not gambling.
नार्या म्लेच्छन्ति भाषाभिर्मायया न चरन्त्युत। अजिह्यमशठं युद्धमेतत्सत्पुरुषव्रतम्
Women do not speak barbarous tongues, nor do they act by trickery; a straightforward, honest fight is the vow of noble men.
शक्तितो ब्राह्मणार्थाय शिक्षितुं प्रयतामहे। तद्वै वित्तं मातिदेवीर्माजैषीः शकुने परान्
To the best of our ability, we strive to learn for the sake of the Brahmin; that is true wealth, O Shakuni, do not win over others by deceit.
निकृत्या कामये नाहं सुखान्युत धनानि वा। कितवस्येह कृतिनो वृत्तमेतन्न पूज्यते
I do not desire pleasures or wealth through deceit, nor do I wish for the gains of a cunning gambler; such conduct is not honored here.
श्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियानेति निकृत्यैव युधिष्ठिर। विद्वानविदुषोऽभ्येति नाहुस्तां निकृतिं जनाः
A learned man defeats another learned man only by deceit, Yudhishthira; the wise and unwise are both overcome, but people do not praise such deceit.
अक्षैर्हि शिक्षितोऽभ्येति निकृत्यैव युधिष्ठिर। विद्वानविदुषोऽभ्येति नाहुस्तां निकृतिं जनाः
He who is skilled at dice overcomes others only by deceit, Yudhishthira; the wise and unwise are both overcome, but people do not praise such deceit.
अकृतास्त्रं कृतास्रश्च दुर्बलं बलवत्तरः। एवं कर्मसु सर्वेषु निकृत्यैव युधिष्ठिरः। विद्वानविदुषोभ्येति नाहुस्तां निकृतिं जनाः
The untrained is overcome by the trained, the weak by the stronger; so in all actions, Yudhishthira, it is by deceit that the wise and unwise are both overcome, but people do not praise such deceit.
एवं त्वं मामिहाभ्येत्य निकृतिं यदि मन्यसे। देवनाद्विनिवर्तस्व यदि ते विद्यते भयम्
Thus, if you approach me here thinking of deceit, withdraw from gambling if you have any fear.
आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्। विधिश्च बलवान्राजन्दिष्टस्यास्मि वशे स्थितः
It is my vow that, once challenged, I do not withdraw; and fate is powerful, O King—I am under the control of destiny.
अस्मिन्समागमे केन देवनं मे भविष्यति। प्रतिपाणश्च कोऽन्योस्ति ततो द्यूतं प्रवर्तताम्
In this assembly, who will play dice with me? Who else will stake against me? Then let the game of dice begin.
अहं दातास्मि रत्नानां धनानां च विशाम्पते। मदर्थे देविता चायं शकुनिर्मातुलो मम
O lord of kings, I am the giver of jewels and wealth; this uncle of mine, Shakuni, is here for my sake.
अन्येनान्यस्य वै द्यूतं विषमं प्रतिभाति मे। एतद्विद्विन्नुपादत्स्व काममेवं प्रवर्ततम्
To me, gambling between different people seems unfair; knowing this, act as you wish, let it proceed in this way.
उपोह्यमाने द्यूते तु राजानः सर्व एव ते। धृतराष्ट्रं पुरस्कृत्य विविशुस्तां सभां ततः
Then, as the game of dice commenced, all those kings, led by Dhritarashtra, entered that assembly.
भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपश्चैव विदुरश्च महामतिः। नातिप्रीतेन मनसा तेऽन्ववर्तन्त भारत
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and the wise Vidura followed, though not with cheerful hearts, O Bharata.
ते द्वन्द्वशः पृथच्कैव सिंहग्रीवा महौजसः। सिंहासनानि भूरिणी विचित्राणि च भेजिरे
Those lion-necked, mighty kings, in pairs and singly, took their seats on many splendid and varied thrones.
शुशुभे सा सभा राजन्राजभिस्तैः समागतैः। देवैरिव महाभागैः समवेतैस्त्रिविष्टपम्
That assembly, O King, shone brilliantly with those gathered kings, like heaven with the assembled, illustrious gods.
सर्वे वेदविदः शूराः सर्वे भास्वरमूर्तयः। प्रवर्तत महाराज सुहृद्द्यूतमनन्तरम्
All were learned in the Vedas, all were valiant, all radiant in form; then, O great king, the friendly game of dice began.
अयं बुहधनो राजन्सागरावर्तसम्भवः। मणिर्हारोत्तरः श्रीमान्कनकोत्तमभूषणः
This is a many-jeweled, splendid gem, born from the swirling ocean, adorned with the finest gold ornaments, O King.
एतद्राजन्मम धनं प्रतिपाणोऽस्ति कस्तव। येन मां त्वं महाराज धनेन प्रतिदीव्यसे
This, O King, is my stake; what is yours? With what wealth, O great king, will you play against me?
सन्ति मे मणयश्चैव धनानि सुबहूनि च। मत्सरश्च न मेऽर्थेषु जयस्वैनं दुरोदरम्
I have many gems and abundant wealth; I have no attachment to possessions—win this deep-caverned gem.