02.058
Core-Pancharatra: Yudhisthira loses his brothers, himself and Draupadi in the game of dice.
Shakuni said.
You have won much of the Pāṇḍavas' wealth, Yudhiṣṭhira. O son of Kunti, declare if there is any wealth left unconquered by you. (2-58-1)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
My wealth is beyond count, as I know, O son of Subala. But why, O Śakuni, do you ask about wealth? (2-58-2)
Ten thousand, a hundred thousand, ten million, a hundred million, a billion, a trillion, a quadrillion, and even the ocean—let all this be wagered here. This is my wealth, O king; with this I stake myself in the game with you. (2-58-3)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, having resolved upon deceit, Śakuni, having resorted to trickery, said to Yudhiṣṭhira, "You are conquered." (2-58-4)
Yudhishthira said.
O son of Subala, all my wealth—cows and horses, countless goats and sheep, herds with many calves, and whatever little of similar kind that lies east of the Sindhu river—this is what I possess, O king; with this, I will stake myself in play with you. (2-58-5)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, and having made up his mind to resort to deceit, Śakuni said to Yudhiṣṭhira, "You are conquered." (2-58-6)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
The city, the country, the land, and the wealth of non-Brahmins; non-Brahmins and men, O king, all the remaining wealth is mine. This, O king, is my wealth; with that I gamble with you. (2-58-7)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, Śakuni, having resolved and resorted to deceit, said to Yudhiṣṭhira, 'Conquered.' (2-58-8)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O king, these princes shine, adorned with earrings, gold coins, and all kinds of body ornaments. This is my wealth, O king; with this I gamble with you. (2-58-9)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, and having made up his mind to resort to deceit, Śakuni said to Yudhiṣṭhira, 'You are conquered.' (2-58-10)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
He is dark-complexioned, young, red-eyed, lion-shouldered, and mighty-armed; Nakula is a wrestler, and the only one among my acquired wealth. (2-58-11)
Shakuni said.
Nakula, who is dear to you, O king Yudhishthira, is a prince. Our wealth has already been won; why do you continue to gamble further? (2-58-12)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having said this, Śakuni took up the dice. Śakuni then said to Yudhiṣṭhira, "Conquered." (2-58-13)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
This Sahadeva instructs on dharma; in this world, he has indeed gained the reputation of being wise. Because of the unworthiness of that prince, I am playing dice with you, my beloved, as if you were not dear to me. (2-58-14)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, and having resolved to resort to deceit, Śakuni said to Yudhiṣṭhira, "You are conquered!" (2-58-15)
Shakuni said.
O king, these two dear sons of Mādrī of yours have been conquered by me. But I consider Bhīmasena and Dhanañjaya to be superior to them. (2-58-16)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Indeed, you act unrighteously, disregarding proper conduct; O deluded one, you wish to sow discord among us who are of good mind. (2-58-17)
Shakuni said.
The deluded falls into a pit, the careless reaches a tree. O king, you are the eldest and the best. Salutations to you, bull among the Bharatas. (2-58-18)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, those things which gamblers, intensely babbling while playing dice, see in their dreams, they do not see when awake. (2-58-19)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
He who is our leader in battle, like a boatman who ferries us across, the swift prince who conquers enemies—because of the unworthiness shown by that hero of the world, O Śakuni, I am playing at dice with Phalguna (Arjuna). (2-58-20)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, having resolved upon deceit, Śakuni, having resorted to trickery, said to Yudhiṣṭhira, "You have been conquered." (2-58-21)
Shakuni said.
This archer of the Pāṇḍavas, Savyasācī (Arjuna), has been defeated by me; O king, Bhīma, your beloved, is sporting. Whatever deceit remains for you, O Pāṇḍava. (2-58-22)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
He who is our leader and guide in battle, like the wielder of the thunderbolt, the sole enemy of the Dānavas; who glances sideways, has knitted brows, is great-souled, lion-shouldered, and always very unyielding. (2-58-23)
There is no man equal to him in strength; among mace-bearers, he is the foremost here and the destroyer of enemies. Yet, O king, I am forced to play dice with Bhīmasena, the prince, though it is unworthy. (2-58-24)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, having made up his mind and resorted to deceit, Śakuni said to Yudhiṣṭhira, "You are conquered!" (2-58-25)
Shakuni said.
You have conquered much wealth, your brothers, and elephants. O son of Kunti, tell me if you have any wealth that remains unconquered. (2-58-26)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
I am the distinguished and beloved of all the brothers as well; we should perform the actions conquered for you, even in calamity, by oneself in the self. (2-58-27)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing this, and having resolved to resort to deceit, Śakuni said to Yudhiṣṭhira, 'You have been defeated.' (2-58-28)
Shakuni said.
This is the most sinful thing you have done, that you have been defeated by yourself. When wealth still remains, O king, the greatest sin is self-defeat. (2-58-29)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, after saying this, Matākṣa defeated all the assembled worldly heroes in the contest, challenging each one separately. (2-58-30)
Shakuni said.
You have a beloved lady, the goddess. There is one game that remains unconquered. Stake Kṛṣṇā, Pāñcālī, and with her, win yourself back again. (2-58-31)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
She is neither short nor tall, neither very dark nor reddish; she has eyes red like a lake, and with her, I sport, O you. (2-58-32)
She whose eyes resemble the leaves of the autumnal blue lotus, who possesses the fragrance of the autumnal blue lotus, who serves the autumnal blue lotus, and whose beauty is equal to that of Lakṣmī. (2-58-33)
Similarly, a man may desire a woman for her compassion, her beauty, or her virtue. (2-58-34)
Whoever lies down last and wakes up first, from among cowherds, shepherds, and elephant-keepers, knows everything that is done and not done. (2-58-35)
Her face shines like a lotus, with perspiration like jasmine; her middle is like an altar, she has long hair, coppery eyes, and is not excessively hairy. (2-58-36)
O king, with such a woman as Pāñcālī, I, of slender waist, am playing the dice-game with the beautiful Draupadī—alas, O son of Subala! (2-58-37)
Vaiśampāyana said.
O Bhārata, when Dharmarāja spoke these words, the elders and members of the assembly exclaimed 'shame, shame', and such words came forth from them. (2-58-38)
O king, that assembly became agitated; the kings began to discuss. Sweat appeared on Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and the others. (2-58-39)
Having taken his head in his hands, Vidura became as if bereft of life. He sits, meditating, his face cast down, sighing like a serpent. (2-58-40)
But Dhritarashtra, overjoyed, kept asking again and again, 'What has been won? What has been won?' Indeed, he could not conceal his excitement. (2-58-41)
Karṇa, along with Duḥśāsana and others, rejoiced greatly; but tears fell from the eyes of the other members of the assembly. (2-58-42)
But the son of Subala, intensely proud after conquering Kāśī and without any consideration, thinking 'I have won', once again took up those dice. (2-58-43)
