02.046
Core-Pancharatra: Further lamentation by Duryodhana in front of his father.
Janamejaya said.
How did the dice-game of the brothers, that great calamity, come about, where that misfortune befell me and the Pāṇḍavas through our grandsires? (2-46-1)
Who among the assembly members and kings there were knowers of Brahman? Who approved him, and who opposed him? (2-46-2)
O best of the twice-born, I wish to hear in detail from you the root cause of the destruction of the earth. (2-46-3)
The bard spoke.
Thus, when addressed by the king, the powerful disciple of Vyāsa, the knower of all the Vedas, related everything exactly as it had happened. (2-46-4)
Vaiśampāyana said.
O best of the Bharatas, listen to this story from me in detail. O great king, if you have an interest in hearing again, (2-46-5)
Knowing Vidura's opinion, Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, again addressed these words to Duryodhana in private. (2-46-6)
Enough of gambling, O Gandhari; Vidura does not approve of it. Indeed, that man of great wisdom will not say anything senseless to us. (2-46-7)
I truly believe that whatever Vidura says is of the highest benefit. O son, let all of that be done; I think all this is for your good. (2-46-8)
The divine sage, Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of Indra, spoke this treatise to the wise king of the gods. (2-46-9)
O son, Vidura, the great sage, knows all the secrets; I am always established in his words as well. (2-46-10)
Vidura, who is wise, is considered the foremost among the Kurus; or Uddhava, of great intellect, is honored among the Vṛṣṇis, O king. (2-46-11)
O son, that is enough with gambling; division is indeed seen in gambling, and in division lies the destruction of the kingdom; therefore, O son, avoid it. (2-46-12)
That which is considered the highest duty by the father, mother, and son, you have now attained, O dear one—the ancestral position (of your forefathers). (2-46-13)
You, who have studied and accomplished the śāstra, are cherished always at home, are the eldest among brothers, and are established in the kingdom—what auspicious thing do you not obtain? (2-46-14)
O mighty-armed one, you have attained that supreme food and covering which is not attainable by ordinary people. Why do you grieve, O son? (2-46-15)
O mighty-armed one, you shine with the greatness of a prosperous kingdom inherited from your forefathers, always commanding like the lord of the gods in heaven. (2-46-16)
O one whose wisdom is known, how has this sorrow-rooted and greater suffering arisen for him? You ought to tell me that. (2-46-17)
Duryodhana said.
A wicked man, thinking 'I eat, I clothe myself,' is intolerant; but the man who acts thus is regarded as the lowest. (2-46-18)
O king, common fortune does not please me, O lord; seeing the blazing prosperity in the son of Kunti, I was agitated. (2-46-19)
Having seen that the entire earth is indeed under Yudhishthira's control, I remain steadfast. Who am I, that I still live? It is out of sorrow that I say this to you. (2-46-20)
Turned as if, the killers of the Caitraka and Kaukura, the Kāraskaras and Lohajaṅghas, appear in the residence of Yudhiṣṭhira. (2-46-21)
In the residence of Yudhishthira, all outcastes were excluded, just as the Himalayas, oceans, marshlands, and all treasure-houses were kept away. (2-46-22)
O lord of men, Yudhiṣṭhira, having honored me as the eldest and the most excellent, engaged me in the receiving of jewels. (2-46-23)
O Bhārata, among the best jewels and those who brought offerings present there, no other end was seen, nor was there any other (limit) there. (2-46-24)
My hand was not available to accept that wealth. When I, exhausted, had taken the wealth brought from afar, they departed. (2-46-25)
O Bhārata, I saw a lotus-pond created by Maya, adorned with jewels and covered with crystal, appearing as if it were a lake completely filled with water. (2-46-26)
Vṛkodara (Bhīma) laughed at me as I pulled up the cloth; the enemy, deluded by the special prosperity, was deprived of the jewel. (2-46-27)
O Bhārata, if I were capable there, I would have caused Vṛkodara (Bhīma) to fall. But the mockery by a rival truly burns me.
O king, once again, thinking that such a lotus-filled pond was solid like stone, I fell into the water. (2-46-29)
There, Kṛṣṇa laughed aloud at me along with Pārtha; and Draupadī, together with the women, tormented my mind. (2-46-30)
The king's servants, seeing me with wet clothes in the water, gave me other garments as ordered by the king, but that was even more painful for me. (2-46-31)
O king, listen as I tell you of another deceit. Disguised as a door-keeper, I went out by a side door, and, having struck a stone again with my forehead, I am wounded. (2-46-32)
There, the two graceful sons of Yama, having seen me from afar, indeed, both together, lamenting, embraced me with their arms. (2-46-33)
But Sahadeva, as if amazed, said to me again and again there: "O king, go from here through this door." (2-46-34)
I had not heard the names of the jewels before; among those I have seen, my mind is attached to them, and they are mine. (2-46-35)
