02.053
Core-Pancharatra: Game of dice starts and Yudhisthira loses his first stake.
शकुनिरुवाच॥
Shakuni said.
उपस्तीर्णा सभा राजन्रन्तुं चैते कृतक्षणाः। अक्षानुप्त्वा देवनस्य समयोऽस्तु युधिष्ठिर ॥२-५३-१॥
O king, the assembly is ready and these men are prepared to play. The dice have been placed; let the game begin, Yudhishthira. (2-53-1)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
निकृतिर्देवनं पापं न क्षात्रोऽत्र पराक्रमः। न च नीतिर्ध्रुवा राजन्किं त्वं द्यूतं प्रशंससि ॥२-५३-२॥
Deceit is sinful for the gods and not valorous for a kṣatriya here; nor is righteousness assured, O king. Why then do you praise gambling? (2-53-2)
न हि मानं प्रशंसन्ति निकृतौ कितवस्य ह। शकुने मैव नो जैषीरमार्गेण नृशंसवत् ॥२-५३-३॥
Honor is never praised in the deceit of a gambler, O Śakuni. Do not try to defeat us by cruel means. (2-53-3)
शकुनिरुवाच॥
Shakuni said.
योऽन्वेति सङ्ख्यां निकृतौ विधिज्ञ; श्चेष्टास्वखिन्नः कितवोऽक्षजासु। महामतिर्यश्च जानाति द्यूतं; स वै सर्वं सहते प्रक्रियासु ॥२-५३-४॥
He who follows the count in cheating, knows the rules, is tireless in actions, is a gambler in dice games, has great intellect, and knows gambling—such a person indeed endures all the processes. (2-53-4)
अक्षग्लहः सोऽभिभवेत्परं न; स्तेनैव कालो भवतीदमात्थ। दीव्यामहे पार्थिव मा विशङ्कां; कुरुष्व पाणं च चिरं च मा कृथाः ॥२-५३-५॥
The dice-gambler should not defeat the other; you have said that only a thief becomes time. We play dice, O king, do not be suspicious; place the stake, and do not delay or hesitate. (2-53-5)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
एवमाहायमसितो देवलो मुनिसत्तमः। इमानि लोकद्वाराणि यो वै सञ्चरते सदा ॥२-५३-६॥
Thus, this Asita Devala, the best among sages, said: "These are the gateways to the worlds; whoever always moves through them." (2-53-6)
इदं वै देवनं पापं मायया कितवैः सह। धर्मेण तु जयो युद्धे तत्परं साधु देवनम् ॥२-५३-७॥
This is truly the fault of the Devas, who, through illusion and with cheats, act so. But victory in battle achieved by righteousness is truly supreme and good for the Devas. (2-53-7)
नार्या म्लेच्छन्ति भाषाभिर्मायया न चरन्त्युत। अजिह्ममशठं युद्धमेतत्सत्पुरुषव्रतम् ॥२-५३-८॥
Women speak in barbarous languages and act with deceit, but this battle is neither crooked nor deceitful; it is the vow of noble men. (2-53-8)
शक्तितो ब्राह्मणान्वन्द्याञ्शिक्षितुं प्रयतामहे। तद्वै वित्तं मातिदेवीर्मा जैषीः शकुने परम् ॥२-५३-९॥
We strive, according to our ability, to instruct Brāhmaṇas who are worthy of reverence. That indeed is wealth; O goddesses, do not, O bird, seek to conquer anything else. (2-53-9)
नाहं निकृत्या कामये सुखान्युत धनानि वा। कितवस्याप्यनिकृतेर्वृत्तमेतन्न पूज्यते ॥२-५३-१०॥
I do not desire pleasures or wealth by deceit. Even the conduct of a gambler who is not deceitful is not honored. (2-53-10)
शकुनिरुवाच॥
Shakuni said.
श्रोत्रियोऽश्रोत्रियमुत निकृत्यैव युधिष्ठिर। विद्वानविदुषोऽभ्येति नाहुस्तां निकृतिं जनाः ॥२-५३-११॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, when a learned person surpasses an unlearned one by means of deceit, people do not consider that to be deceit. (2-53-11)
एवं त्वं मामिहाभ्येत्य निकृतिं यदि मन्यसे। देवनाद्विनिवर्तस्व यदि ते विद्यते भयम् ॥२-५३-१२॥
Thus, if you have come to me here and consider this to be deceit, then turn back from the god if you feel any fear. (2-53-12)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्। विधिश्च बलवान्राजन्दिष्टस्यास्मि वशे स्थितः ॥२-५३-१३॥
I have taken a vow that, once called, I will not turn back. Destiny is powerful, O king; I am under the control of what is ordained. (2-53-13)
अस्मिन्समागमे केन देवनं मे भविष्यति। प्रतिपाणश्च कोऽन्योऽस्ति ततो द्यूतं प्रवर्तताम् ॥२-५३-१४॥
In this assembly, who will be my stake? And who else is the counter-stake? Then let the dice-game begin. (2-53-14)
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana said.
अहं दातास्मि रत्नानां धनानां च विशां पते। मदर्थे देविता चायं शकुनिर्मातुलो मम ॥२-५३-१५॥
O lord of peoples, I am the giver of jewels and riches; for my sake, this Śakuni, my maternal uncle, has been exalted to divinity. (2-53-15)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
अन्येनान्यस्य विषमं देवनं प्रतिभाति मे। एतद्विद्वन्नुपादत्स्व काममेवं प्रवर्तताम् ॥२-५३-१६॥
The action of one towards another seems unfair to me. O wise one, please accept this; let it be carried out in this way. (2-53-16)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
उपोह्यमाने द्यूते तु राजानः सर्व एव ते। धृतराष्ट्रं पुरस्कृत्य विविशुस्तां सभां ततः ॥२-५३-१७॥
But as the game of dice was about to begin, all the kings, with Dhritarashtra at their head, entered that assembly. (2-53-17)
भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपश्चैव विदुरश्च महामतिः। नातीवप्रीतमनसस्तेऽन्ववर्तन्त भारत ॥२-५३-१८॥
Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Vidura, the wise, did not follow with much pleasure in their hearts, O Bhārata. (2-53-18)
ते द्वंद्वशः पृथक्चैव सिंहग्रीवा महौजसः। सिंहासनानि भूरीणि विचित्राणि च भेजिरे ॥२-५३-१९॥
Those lion-necked warriors of great energy, both in pairs and individually, occupied many splendid and varied lion-thrones. (2-53-19)
शुशुभे सा सभा राजन्राजभिस्तैः समागतैः। देवैरिव महाभागैः समवेतैस्त्रिविष्टपम् ॥२-५३-२०॥
O king, that assembly shone with the presence of those kings who had assembled there, just as heaven shines when the greatly fortunate gods are gathered together. (2-53-20)
सर्वे वेदविदः शूराः सर्वे भास्वरमूर्तयः। प्रावर्तत महाराज सुहृद्द्यूतमनन्तरम् ॥२-५३-२१॥
O great king, all the valiant knowers of the Veda, all radiant in form, then commenced the friendly game of dice. (2-53-21)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
अयं बहुधनो राजन्सागरावर्तसम्भवः। मणिर्हारोत्तरः श्रीमान्कनकोत्तमभूषणः ॥२-५३-२२॥
O king, this splendid and wealthy necklace, originating from the ocean's whirlpool, is the finest among pearl necklaces and is adorned with the best gold. (2-53-22)
एतद्राजन्धनं मह्यं प्रतिपाणस्तु कस्तव। भवत्वेष क्रमस्तात जयाम्येनं दुरोदरम् ॥२-५३-२३॥
O king, this wealth is mine; but who is your counter-pledge? Let this be the order, dear one. I shall conquer Duryodhana. (2-53-23)
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana said.
सन्ति मे मणयश्चैव धनानि विविधानि च। मत्सरश्च न मेऽर्थेषु जयाम्येनं दुरोदरम् ॥२-५३-२४॥
I have jewels and various kinds of wealth, and I do not have envy for possessions; I overcome this Duryodhana. (2-53-24)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततो जग्राह शकुनिस्तानक्षानक्षतत्त्ववित्। जितमित्येव शकुनिर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत ॥२-५३-२५॥
Then Śakuni, who understood the true nature of dice, took up the dice and said to Yudhishthira, 'It is won.' (2-53-25)
