तानुपायान्हि कौन्तेया बहुशो व्यतिचक्रमुः। तस्माद्वितं जीविताय नः कुलस्य जनस्य च
The sons of Kunti have overcome all those schemes many times; therefore, let us choose peace for the sake of our lives, our family, and our people.
त्वं चिकीर्षसि चेद्वत्स समित्रः सहबान्धवः। सभ्रातृकस्त्वं पार्थेन नित्यं स्नेहेन वर्तय
If you wish, my child, for the well-being of your friends, relatives, and brothers, then always act with affection toward Partha.
धृतराष्ट्रवचः श्रुत्वा राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु विधिना चोदितोऽब्रवीत्
Hearing Dhritarashtra's words, King Duryodhana then, after reflecting for a moment and urged by fate, spoke.
पुनर्दीव्याम भद्रं ते वनवासाय पाण्डवैः। एवमेतान्वशे कर्तुं शक्ष्यामः पुरुषर्षभ।।ष
Let us play again, for the sake of the Pandavas' exile; in this way, O best of men, we will be able to bring them under our control.
ते वा द्वादश वर्षाणि वयं वा द्यूतनिर्जिताः। प्रविशेम महारण्यमजिनैः प्रतिवासिताः
Either they, for twelve years, or we, defeated at dice, shall enter the great forest, clad in deerskins.
त्रयोदशं च स्वजनैरज्ञाताः परिवत्सरम्। ज्ञाताश्च पुनरन्यानि वने वर्षाणि द्वादश
And for the thirteenth year, let them or us live unrecognized among our own people; if discovered, again let there be twelve years in the forest.
निवसेम वयं ते वा तथा द्यूतं प्रवर्तताम्। अक्षानुप्त्वा पुनर्द्यूतमिदं कुर्वन्तु पाण्डवः
Let us or they dwell thus; let the dice game proceed in this way. Without casting the dice, let the Pandavas play this game again.
एतत्कृत्यतमं राजन्नस्माकं भरतर्षभ। अयं हि शकुनिर्वेद सविद्यामक्षसम्पदम्
This, O king, is the most advantageous course for us, O bull of the Bharatas; for Shakuni knows well the art and mastery of dice.
दृढमूलं वयं राज्ये मित्राणि परिगृह्य च। सारवद्विपुलं सैन्यं सत्कृत्य च दुरासदम्
We are firmly established in the kingdom, having gathered allies, and our army is strong, vast, and formidable, honored and difficult to overcome.
ते च त्रयोदशं वर्षं पारयिष्यन्ति चेद्व्रतम्। जेष्यामस्तान्वयं राजत्रोचतां ते परन्तप
If they complete the thirteen-year vow, O king, then we shall defeat them; let this be decided by you, scorcher of foes.
तूर्णं प्रत्यानयस्वैतान्कामं व्यध्वगतानपि। आगच्छन्तु पुनर्द्यूतमिदं कुर्वन्तु पाण्डवः
Quickly summon them back, even if they have departed as they wish; let the Pandavas come and play this game of dice again.
ततो द्रोणः सोमदत्तो बाह्लीकश्चैव गौतमः। विदुरो द्रोणपुत्रश्च वैश्यापुत्रश्च वीर्यवान्
Then Drona, Somadatta, Bahlika, Gautama, Vidura, Drona's son, and the mighty son of a Vaishya,
भूरिश्रवाः शान्तनवो विकर्णश्च महारथः। मा द्यूतमित्यभाषन्त शमोऽस्त्विति च सर्वशः
Bhuriśravas, descendant of Shantanu, and the great chariot-warrior Vikarna—all said, 'Let there be no dice game,' and all declared, 'Let there be peace.'
अकामानां च सर्वेषां सुहृदामर्थदर्शिनाम्। अकरोत्पाण्डवाह्वानं धृतराष्ट्रः सुतप्रियः
But Dhritarashtra, devoted to his son, called for the Pandavas, against the wishes of all his well-meaning friends who saw the true interest.
अथाब्रवीन्महाराज धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्। पुत्रहार्दाद्धर्मयुक्ता गान्धारी शोककर्शिता
Then Gandhari, afflicted with grief, righteous and devoted to her son, spoke to King Dhritarashtra, lord of men.
जाते दुर्योधने क्षत्ता महामतिरभाषत। नीयतां परलोकाय साध्वयं कुलपांसनः
When Duryodhana was born, the wise charioteer spoke: 'Let this destroyer of the family be sent to the other world.'
व्यनदज्जातमात्रो हि गोमायुरिव भारत। अन्तो नूनं कुलस्यास्य कुरवस्तन्निबोधत
For at birth he howled like a jackal, O Bharata; know that this surely marks the end of this family of the Kurus.
मा निमज्जीः स्वदोषेण महाप्सु त्वं हि भारत। मा बालानामशिष्टानामभिमंस्था मतिं प्रभो
Do not, O Bharata, sink by your own fault into great ruin; do not, lord, approve the counsel of foolish, untrained youths.
मा कुलस्य क्षये घोरे कारणं त्वं भविष्यसि। बद्धं सेतुं को नु भिन्द्याद्धमेच्छान्तं च पावकम्
Do not become the cause of the dreadful destruction of the family; who would break a well-built dam, or wish to extinguish a fire that is dying down?
शमे स्थितान्को नु पार्थान्कोपयेद्भरतर्षभ। स्मरन्तं त्वामाजमीढं स्मारयिष्याम्यहं पुनः
Who would provoke the sons of Pandu, who are devoted to peace, O bull of the Bharatas? I will remind you again of your ancestor, Ajamidha.
शास्त्रं न शास्ति दुर्बुद्धिं श्रेयसे चेतराय च। न वै वृद्धो बालमतिर्भवेद्राजन्कथञ्चन
Scripture does not guide a person of poor understanding, whether for their benefit or otherwise; O King, an old man never becomes childish in mind, under any circumstance.
त्वन्नेत्राः सन्तु ते पुत्रा मा त्वां दीर्णाः प्रहासिषुः। तस्मादयं मद्वचनात्त्यज्यतां कुलपांसनः
May your sons be led by you; do not let them, torn apart, bring you grief. Therefore, by my words, let this disgrace to the family be cast aside.
तथा ते न कृतं राजन्पुत्रस्नेहान्नराधिप। तस्य प्राप्तं फलं विद्धि कुलान्तकरणाय यत्
But you did not act so, O King, out of affection for your son; know that the result has come for the destruction of the lineage.
शमेन धर्मेण नयेन युक्ता या ते बुद्धिः साऽस्तु ते मा प्रमादीः। प्रध्वंसिनी क्रूरसमाहिता श्री- र्मृदुप्रौढा गच्छति पुत्रपौत्रान्
May your mind, joined with peace, righteousness, and good policy, remain with you; do not be careless. Fortune, when harsh and cruelly disposed, departs from sons and grandsons, though it is gentle and mature.
अथाब्रवीन्महाराजो गान्धारीं धर्मदर्शिनीम्। अन्तः कामं कुलस्यास्तु न शक्नोमि निवारितुम्
Then the great king spoke to Gandhari, who knows righteousness: 'Though I wish it in my heart for the sake of the family, I am unable to restrain it.'
यथेच्छन्ति तथैवास्तु प्रत्यागच्छन्तु पाण्डवाः। पुनर्द्यूतं च कुर्वन्तु मामकाः पाण्डवैः सह
'Let it be as they wish; let the Pandavas return. Let my people play dice again with the Pandavas.'
ततो व्यध्वगतं पार्थं प्रातिकामी युधिष्ठिरम्। उवाच वचनाद्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः
Then Pratikami approached Partha Yudhishthira and spoke to him on behalf of the wise king Dhritarashtra.
उपास्तीर्णा सभा राजन्नक्षानुप्त्वा युधिष्ठिर। एहि पाण्डव दीव्येति पिता त्वाह नराधिपः
'The hall is prepared, O King, with dice set out, Yudhishthira. Come, O Pandava, and play; your father, the lord of men, summons you.'
धातुर्नियोगाद्भूतानि प्राप्नुवन्ति शुभाशुभम्। न निवृत्तिस्तयोरस्ति देवतव्यं पुनर्यदि
By the command of destiny, beings experience good and evil; there is no escape from these two. If fate demands, it must be endured again.
अक्षद्यूते समाह्वानं नियोगात्स्थविरस्य च। जानन्नपि क्षयकरं नातिक्रमितुमुत्सहे
Summoned to the dice game by the command of the elder, even knowing it brings ruin, I am unable to refuse.