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.
प्रवर्तमाने द्यूते तु मात्स्यः पाण्डवमब्रवीत्
As the game of dice commenced, the king of Matsya spoke to the Pandava.
पश्य पुत्रेण मे युद्धे तादृशाः कुरवो जिताः । कुरवोऽतिरथाः सर्वे देवैरपि सुदुर्जयाः
See, by my son in battle, such Kurus have been defeated—Kurus who are all great chariot-warriors, difficult to conquer even for the gods.
ततोऽब्रवीद्धर्मराजो द्यूते मात्स्यं युधिष्ठिरः। दिष्ट्या ते विजिता गावः कुरवश्च पराजिताः
Then Yudhishthira, king of dharma, said to the Matsya king at the dice game: 'By fortune, your cows have been saved and the Kurus defeated.'
अत्यद्भुततमं मन्ये उत्तरश्चेत्कूरूञ्जयेत्। यन्ता बृहन्नला यस्य स कथंचिद्विजेष्यते
I think it would be most astonishing if Uttara were to defeat the Kurus; for the charioteer of Brihannala, he might somehow achieve victory.
ततो विराटः क्षुभितो मन्युना च परिप्लुतः। उवाच वचनं क्रुद्धः परिव्राजमनन्तरम्
Then Virata, agitated and filled with anger, spoke these words in wrath to the wandering Brahmana.
तादृशेन तु योधेन महेष्वासेन धीमता। कुरवो निर्जिता युद्धे तत्र किं ब्राह्मणाद्भुतम्
With such a warrior, a great archer and wise, the Kurus were defeated in battle; what is so astonishing in that, O Brahmana?
समं षण्डेन मे पुत्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो प्रशंससि। वाच्यावाच्यं न जानीषे नूनं मामवमन्यसे
You praise my son as equal to a eunuch, O so-called Brahmin; you do not know what should or should not be said—surely you hold me in contempt.
समं षण्डेन मे पुत्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो प्रशंससि। वाच्यावाच्यं न जानीषे नूनं मामवमन्यसे
You praise my son as equal to a eunuch, O so-called Brahmin; you do not know what should or should not be said—surely you hold me in contempt.
पुमांसो बहवो दृष्टाः सूताश्च बहवो मया। विक्रम्य यन्ता योद्धा च न मे दृष्टः कदाचन
I have seen many men and many charioteers; I have never seen one who, having mounted a chariot, is also a warrior.
विप्रियं न चरेद्राज्ञामनुकूलं प्रियं वदेत्। आचरन्विप्रियं राज्ञां न जातु सुखमेधते
One should not act against the wishes of kings, but should speak what is agreeable; he who acts contrary to kings never attains happiness.
वयस्यत्वात्तु ते सर्वमपराधमिमं क्षमे। नेदृशीं प्रवदर्वाचं यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि
Because of your friendship, I forgive this entire offense of yours; do not speak such words again if you wish to live.
ततोऽब्रवीत्पुनः कङ्कः प्रहस्य कुरुवर्धनः । बृहन्नलाया सजेन्द्र धुष्यतां नगरे जयः
Then Kanka, the joy of the Kurus, laughed and said: 'Let victory be to Brihannala, O king, in the city of Duhshasana!'
उत्तरेण तु सारथ्यं कृतं नूनं भविष्यति। निमित्तं किंचिदुत्पन्नं तर्कश्चापि दृढो मम। यतो जानामि राजेन्द्र नान्यथा तद्भविष्यति
Surely Uttara has already performed charioteering; some omen has arisen, and my reasoning is firm, O king—there is no other way it will be.
कुरवोऽपि महावीर्या देवैरपि सुदुर्जयाः। ससोमवरुणादित्यैः सयक्षेशहुताशनैः
Even the Kurus, of great might, are very difficult to conquer, even for the gods—together with Soma, Varuna, Aditya, the Yaksha-lord, and Agni.
यत्र शान्तनवो भीष्मो द्रोणकर्णौ सुदुर्जयौ। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सोमदत्तो जयद्रथः
Where Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and the unconquerable Drona and Karna are, as well as Ashvatthama, Vikarna, Somadatta, and Jayadratha,
भूरिश्रवाः शलो भूरिर्जलसन्धिश्च वीर्यवान्। दुर्योधनो दुष्प्रसहो दुःशासनविविंशती
Bhuriśravas, Shala, Bhuri, the mighty Jalasaṃdhi, Duryodhana, difficult to overcome, Duhshasana, and Vivimshati,
वृषसेनोऽश्ववेगश्च वायुवेगसुवर्चसौ । बाह्लीकः शूरसेनश्च युयुत्सुश्च परन्तपः
Vrishasena, Ashvavega, Vayu-vega, Suvarcas, Bahlika, Shurasena, and Yuyutsu, the scorcher of foes,
सौबलः शकुनिश्चैव द्युमत्सेनश्च साल्वराट् । अन्ये च बहवः शूरा नानाजनपदेश्वराः
Saubala, Shakuni, Dyumatsena, king of the Salvas, and many other heroes, lords of various peoples,
कृपेणाचार्यमुख्येन सहिताः कुरवो नृपाः। सञ्जकार्मुकनिस्त्रिंशा रथिनो रथयूथपाः। अन्ये चैव महावीर्या राजपुत्रा महारथाः
The Kuru kings, together with Kripa, the foremost teacher, armed with bows and swords, chariot-warriors and leaders of chariot-divisions, and other mighty princes and great chariot-warriors,
मरुद्गणैः परिवृतः साक्षादपि पुरंदरः । तद्बलं न जयेत्क्रुद्धो भीष्मद्रोणादिभिर्वृतम्
Even Indra himself, surrounded by the hosts of Maruts, would not defeat that force, protected by Bhishma, Drona, and the others, even if enraged.