अथोत्तरेण प्रहिता दूतास्ते शीघ्रगामिनः । विराटनगरं प्राप्य जयं प्रावेदयंस्तदा
Then swift messengers were dispatched, and upon reaching the city of Virata, they announced the victory.
राजानं वृतमाचख्युर्मन्त्रिभिर्जयमुत्तमम् । पराजयं कुरूणां च उपायान्तं तथोत्तरम्
They reported to the king, who was surrounded by his ministers, the great victory, the defeat of the Kurus, and the safe return of Uttara.
सर्वा विनिर्जिता गावः कुरवश्च पराजिताः। उत्तरः सह सूतेन कुशली च परंतपः
All the cows have been recovered, the Kurus have been vanquished, and Uttara, together with the charioteer, has returned unharmed, O subduer of foes.
दिष्ट्या ते निर्जिता गावः कुरवश्च पराजिताः। दिष्ट्या ते विजयी पुत्रः श्रूयते पार्थिवर्षभः
By good fortune your cows have been recovered and the Kurus defeated; by good fortune your son is heard to be victorious, O bull among kings.
नाद्भुतं त्विह मन्येऽहं यत्ते पुत्रोऽजयत्कुरून्। ध्रुव एव जयस्तस्य यस्य यन्ता बृहन्नला
Yet I do not consider it surprising that your son defeated the Kurus; victory is certain for one whose charioteer is Brihannala.
देवेन्द्रसारथिश्चैव मातलिः ख्यातविक्रमः । कृष्णस्य सारथिश्चैव न बृहन्नलया समौ
Even Matali, the famed charioteer of Indra, and Krishna's own charioteer, are not equal to Brihannala.
ततो विराटो नृपतिः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुह। श्रुत्वा तु विजयं तस्य कुमारस्यामितौजसः। संतोषयित्वा दूतांस्तान्धनरत्नैश्च सर्वशः
Then King Virata, his body thrilled with joy, upon hearing of the victory of his mighty son, rewarded all the messengers with wealth and jewels.
गते त्वनुजने तस्मिन्दूतवाक्यं निशम्य च। उत्तरस्य जयात्प्रीतो विराटः प्रत्यभाषत
When the attendants had departed and the words of the messengers had been heard, Virata, delighted at Uttara's victory, spoke as follows:
राजमार्गाः क्रियन्तां वै पताकाभिरलंकृताः। पुष्पोपहारैरर्च्यतां देवताश्चापि सर्वशः
Let the royal roads be adorned with banners; let all the gods be worshipped everywhere with offerings of flowers.
कुमारा योधमुख्याश्च गणिकाश्च स्वलंकृताः। वादित्राणि च सर्वाणि प्रत्युद्यान्तु सुतं मम
Let the princes, chief warriors, and beautifully adorned courtesans, along with all the musicians, go forth to welcome my son.
भवन्तु ते लब्धजये सुते मे पौराश्च मर्त्याश्च परे च नार्यः । ते शुक्लवस्त्राः प्रभवन्तु मार्गे सुगन्धमाल्याभरणाश्च नार्यः
Let the citizens, commoners, foreigners, and women all rejoice at my son's victory; let them wear white garments along the road, and let the women be adorned with fragrant garlands and ornaments.
भजन्तु सर्वा गणिकाः सुतं मे नार्यश्च कन्याः सहसैनिकाश्च । स्वलंकृतास्ताः सुभगाः सुवेषाः पुत्रस्य पन्थानमनुव्रजन्तु
Let all the courtesans, women, maidens, and soldiers, beautifully adorned and splendidly dressed, accompany my son along his path.
घण्टापणवकाः शीघ्रं मत्तमारुह्य कुञ्जरम्। शृङ्गाटकेषु सर्वेषु समाख्यान्तु जयं मम्
Let those with bells and drums quickly mount intoxicated elephants and proclaim my victory at every crossroads.
उत्तरा च कुमारीभिर्बह्वाभरणभूषिता। सखीं विजितसंग्रामां प्रत्युद्यातु बृहन्नलाम्
Let Uttara, adorned with many ornaments and accompanied by maidens, go forth to meet Brihannala, her companion in victory.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य पार्थिवस्य महात्मन। तथैव चक्रुः संहृष्टाः पौराः स्वस्तिकपाणयः
Hearing the words of that great-souled king, the delighted citizens, with auspicious offerings in hand, did exactly as commanded.
मूताश्च सर्वे सहमागधाश्च हृष्टा विराटस्य पुरे जनौघाः । भेर्यश्च तूर्याणि च वारिजाश्च वेपैः परार्ध्यैः प्रमदाजनाश्च
All the Mūtas, the Saha-Magadhas, and the joyful crowds in Virata's city, along with drums, musical instruments, conch shells, and women adorned with precious ornaments, joined in the celebration.
वन्दिप्रवादाः पणवादिकाश्च तथैव वाद्यानि च वंशशब्दाः । कांस्यं सतालं मधुरं च गीत- मादाय नार्यो नगरान्निरीयुः
Bards, panegyrists, drummers, and musicians, along with the sounds of flutes, cymbals, and sweet songs, led the women out from the city.
प्रत्युद्ययुः पुत्रमनन्तवीर्यं ते ब्राह्मणाः शान्तिपराः प्रधानाः । स्वाध्यायवेदाध्ययनक्रमज्ञाः स्वस्तिक्रियागीतजपप्रधानाः
The foremost Brahmanas, devoted to peace, skilled in recitation and study of the Vedas, and leading in auspicious rites, songs, and chants, went forth to welcome the son of endless might.
प्रस्थाप्य सेनां कन्याश्च गणिकाश्च स्वलंकृताः। मत्स्यराजो महाराजः प्रहृष्ट इदमब्रवीत्
Having dispatched the army and the maidens, as well as the courtesans adorned with ornaments, King Matsya, O great king, spoke these words with delight.
व्रिगर्ताः कुरवः सर्वे संग्रामे निर्जिता मया। प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं हृष्टा द्यूतं दीव्याम ब्राह्मण
The Trigartas and all the Kurus have been defeated by me in battle; let us enter the inner chambers, O Brahmana, and play dice joyfully.
अक्षानाहर सैरन्ध्रि आसनं चोपकल्पय। आदाय व्यजनं त्वं च पार्श्वतोऽनन्तरा भव
Bring the dice, Sairandhri, and arrange the seats; take up the fan and stand close by my side.
तं तथावादिनं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवः प्रत्यभापत। न देवितव्यं हृष्टेन कितवेनेति नः श्रुतम्
Seeing him speak thus, the Pandava replied: 'We have heard that one who is elated should not gamble with a gambler.'
न त्वामद्य मुदा युक्तमहं देवितुमुत्सहे । प्रियं तु ते चिकीर्पामि वर्ततां यदि रोचते। द्यूतं कर्तुं न वाञ्छामि नरेन्द्र जनसंसदि
Today, in joy, I am not inclined to play dice with you; yet I wish to do what pleases you, if it is agreeable; but I do not desire to gamble in the assembly of men, O king.
स्त्रियो गावो हिरण्यं च यच्चान्यद्वसु किंचन। न मे किंचित्त्वया कार्यमन्तरेणापि देवितम्
Women, cows, gold, and any other wealth—there is nothing you need to win from me, even apart from gambling.
किं ते द्यूतेन राजेन्द्र बहुदोषेण मानद। देवने बहवो दोषास्तस्मात्तत्परिवर्जयेत्
What use is gambling to you, O king, which brings many faults, O bestower of honor? There are many evils in gambling; therefore, one should avoid it.
श्रुतो वा यदि वा दृष्टो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । स राज्यं धनमक्षय्यं पणमेकममन्यत
Whether you have heard or seen, King Yudhishthira, lord of dharma, once staked his kingdom and inexhaustible wealth on a single throw.
कृष्णां च भार्यां दयितां भ्रातॄंश्च त्रिदशोपमान्। निःसंशयं स कितवः पश्चात्तप्यति पाण्डवः
He also wagered Krishna, his beloved wife, and his brothers, equal to the gods; without doubt, that gambler Pandava now regrets it.
विविधानां च रत्नानां धनानां च पराजये। अभीप्सितविनाशश्च वाक्पारुष्यमनन्तरम्
In the loss of various jewels and treasures, there follows the destruction of what is desired, and then harsh words come in succession.
अविश्वास्यं बुधैर्नित्यमेकाह्ना द्रव्यनाशनम्। द्यूते हारितवान्सर्वं तस्माद्द्यूतं न रोचये
The wise always consider gambling untrustworthy, for in a single day all wealth is lost; having lost everything in dice, I do not desire it.
अथवा मन्यसे राजन्दीव्याव यदि रोचते। एवमाभाष्य वाक्यैस्तु क्रीडतस्तौ नरोत्तमौ
But if you think otherwise, O king, and wish to play, let it be so; thus, with such words, those two best of men began to play.