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.
ततो जग्राह शकुनिस्तानक्षानक्षतत्त्ववित्। जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
Then Shakuni, skilled in dice, took up the dice and said to Yudhishthira, 'Won!'
मत्त कैतकेनैव यज्जितोऽस्मि दुरोदरे। शकुने हन्त दीव्यामो ग्लहमानाः परस्परम्
Since I have been defeated by deceit in this game, O Shakuni, come, let us play, each challenging the other.
सन्ति निष्कसहस्रस्य भाण्डिन्यो भरिताः शुभाः। कोशो हिरण्यमक्षय्यं जातरूपमनेकशः। एतद्राजन्मम धनं तेन दीव्याम्यहं त्वया
There are splendid containers filled with a thousand gold pieces, an inexhaustible treasury of gold in many forms; this, O King, is my wealth, and with it I play against you.
कौरवाणां कुलकरं ज्येष्ठं पाण्डवमच्युतम्। इत्युक्तः शकुनिः प्राह जितमित्येव तं नृपम्
Thus addressed, Shakuni said to the king, 'Won!'—referring to the eldest, steadfast Pandava, the glory of the Kaurava line.
अयं सहस्रसमितो वैयाघ्रः सुप्रतिष्ठितः। सुचक्रोपस्करः श्रीमान्किङ्किणीजालमण्डितः
Here is a well-built chariot, equal to a thousand, adorned with fine equipment, splendid, and decorated with jingling bells.
संह्रादनो राजरथो य इहास्मानुपावहत्। जौत्रो रथवरः पुण्यो मेघसागरनिः स्वनः
This royal chariot, which resounds like thunderclouds and the sea, is drawn here for us, auspicious, and famed among chariots.
अष्टौ यं कुररच्छायाः सदश्वा राष्ट्रसंमताः। वहन्ति नैषां मुच्येत पदाद्भूमिमुपस्पृशन्। एतद्राजन्धनं मह्यं तेन दीव्याम्यहं त्वया
Eight steeds, shaded like cranes, always approved in the realm, draw it; they never touch the ground with their feet. This, O King, is my wealth, and with it I play against you.
एवं श्रुत्वा व्यवसितो निकृतिं समुपाश्रितः। जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
Hearing this, Yudhishthira, resolved but embracing deceit, was again declared defeated by Shakuni.
शतं दासीसहस्राणि तरुण्यो हेमभद्रिकाः। कम्बुकेयूरधारिण्यो निष्ककण्ठ्यः स्वलङ्कृताः
A hundred thousand maidservants, young women adorned with golden seats, wearing armlets and necklaces, splendidly ornamented—
महार्हमाल्याभरणाः सुवस्त्राश्चन्दनोक्षिताः। मणीन्हेम च बिभ्रत्यश्चतुःषष्टिविशारदाः
Adorned with garlands and ornaments of great value, well-dressed and anointed with sandalwood, wearing jewels and gold, skilled in sixty-four arts—