शकुनिरुवाच यां त्वमेतां श्रियं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रे युधिष्ठिरे। तप्यसे तां हरिष्यामि द्यूतेन जयतां वर॥
Shakuni said O foremost of all virtuous men, I shall win by dice the prosperity of the son of Pandu, Yudhishthira, seeing which you so much grieve.
आहूयतां परं राजन् कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अगत्वा संशयमहमयुद्ध्वा च चमूमुखे॥ अक्षान् क्षिपन्नक्षतः सन् विद्धानविदुषो जये। ग्लहान् धनूंषि मे विद्धि शरानक्षांश्च भारत॥ अक्षाणां हृदयं मे ज्या रथं विद्धि ममास्तरम्॥
O king, let the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, be summoned. A skilfull man, keeping himself uninjured, and by throwing dice may vanquish one that has no skill. O descendant of Bharata, know that betting is my bow, the dice are my arrows, the marks of them (dice) are my bow-strings, and the dice-board is my car.
दुर्योधन उवाच अयमुत्सहते राजञ्छ्यिमाहर्तुमक्षवित्। द्यूतेन पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यस्तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि॥
Duryodhana said O king, this expert in dice (Shakuni) is ready to win the prosperity of the son of Pandu by means of dice. you ought to give him permission.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच स्थितोऽस्मि शासने भ्रातुर्विदुरस्य महात्मनः। तेन संगम्य वेत्स्यामि कार्यस्यास्य विनिश्चयम्॥
Dhritarashtra said I am always obedient to the counsel of my brother, the high-souled Vidura. After consulting with him, I shall settle what should be done in this matter.
दुर्योधन उवाच व्यपनेष्यति ते बुद्धिं विदुरो मुक्तसंशयः। पाण्डवानां हिते युक्तो न तथा मम कौरव॥
Duryodhana said O descendant of Kuru, Vidura is always engaged in doing good to the Pandavas. His feelings towards me is not so.
नारभेतान्यसामर्थ्यात् पुरुषः कार्यमात्मनः। मतिसाम्यं द्वयोर्नास्ति कार्येषु कुरुनन्दन॥
O descendant of Kuru, he is sure to withdraw your mind from the proposed act. No man should engage in doing a thing by depending on the counsel of another, for the minds of two persons seldom agree in any thing.
भयं परिहरन् मन्द आत्मानं परिपालयन्। वर्षासु क्लिन्नकटवत् तिष्ठन्नेवावसीदति॥
The fool who cherishes himself by shunning all causes of fear destroys himself like an insect in the rainy season.
न व्याधयो नापि यमः प्राप्तुं श्रेयः प्रतीक्षते। यावदेव भवेत् कल्पस्तावच्छ्रेयः समाचरेत्॥
Neither disease nor Yama (Death) waits till one is in prosperity. Therefore, so long there is life and breath, let us accomplish this purpose.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच सर्वथा पुत्र बलिभिर्विग्रहो मे न रोचते। वैरं विकारं सृजति तद् वै शस्त्रमनायसम्॥
Dhritarashtra said O son, enmity with those that are strong is never liked by me. Enmity brings about a change of feelings, and it is itself a weapon, though not made of steel.
अनर्थमर्थं मन्यसे राजपुत्र संग्रन्थनं कलहस्याति घोरम्। तद् वै प्रवृत्तं तु तथा कथंचित् सृजेदसीन् निशितान् सायकांच॥
O prince, you consider an act, which will bring in its train the fearful consequences of war and which is really fraught with mischief, as a great blessing. If it once begins, it will produce sharp swords and pointed arrows.
दुर्योधन उवाच स्तत्रात्ययो नास्ति न सम्प्रहारः। तद् रोचतां शकुनेर्वाक्यमद्य सभां क्षिप्रं त्वमिहाज्ञापयस्व॥
Duryodhana said The dice has been created and used by the men of ancient time. There is neither destruction nor striking with weapons in it. Therefore, let the counsel of Shakuni be accepted by you today. Let your commands be soon issued for the construction of the Assembly-hall.
स्वर्गद्वारं दीव्यतां नो विशिष्टं तद्वर्तिनां चापि तथैव युक्तम्। भवेदेवं ह्यात्मना तुल्यमेव दुरोदरं पाण्डवैस्त्वं कुरुष्व॥
The door of heaven will be opened to us by gambling. It will lead us to great happiness. They that be take to gambling (truly) deserve such good fortune. The Pandavas will be then our equal therefore (allow us to) gamble with them.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच वाक्यं न मे रोचते यत् त्वयोक्तं यत् ते प्रियं तत् क्रियतां नरेन्द्र। पश्चात् तप्स्यसे तदुपाक्रम्य वाक्यं न हीदृशं भावि वचो हि धर्म्यम्॥
Dhritarashtra said The words uttered by you do not recommend themselves to me. (However) O ruler of men, do what is agreeable to you. You shall have to repent for acting according to these words, for words fraught with such impiety cannot bring.in prosperity.
दृष्टं ह्येतद् विदुरेणैव सर्वं विपश्चिता बुद्धिविद्यानुगेन। तदेवैतदवशस्याभ्युपैति महद् भयं क्षत्रियजीवधाति॥
All this has been foreseen by the learned Vidura, who follows the path of learning end wisdom. the great calamity which would cause the destruction of the Kshatriya-lives comes as willed by Fate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी दैवं मत्वा परमं दुस्तरं च। शशासोच्चैः पुरुषान् पुत्रवाक्ये स्थितो राजा दैवसम्मूढचेताः॥
Vaishampayana said Having said this the weak-minded Dhritarashtra considered that Fate was supreme (in this world). The king (Dhritarashtra), deprived of his (good) sense by Fate and obedient to the words of his son, loudly commanded his men (saying),
सहस्रस्तम्भां हेमवैदूर्यचित्रां शतद्वारां तोरणस्फाटिकाख्याम्। सभामग्यां क्रोशमात्रायतां मे तद्विस्तारामाशु कुर्वन्तु युक्ताः॥
“Build with all care as soon as possible an Assembly-hall of the most beautiful description to be called” crystal-gate palace” with one thousand pillars and one thousand gates, decked with gold and Vaidurya gems and extending two miles in length and two miles in breadth".
श्रुत्वा तस्य त्वरिता निर्विशङ्काः प्राज्ञा दक्षास्तां तदा चक्रुराशु। सर्वद्रव्याण्युपजह्वः सभायां सहस्रशः शिल्पिनश्चैव युक्ताः॥
Hearing (the command), thousands of wise and skillful artificial soon built the palace with the greatest alacrity. Having built it, they brought there every king of article.
कालेनाल्पेनाथ निष्ठां गतां तां सभां रम्यां बहुरत्नां विचित्राम्। माचख्युस्ते तस्य राज्ञः प्रतीताः॥
They (then) gladly informed the king that the Sabha was ready, it has been made delightful and beautiful, and it had been furnished with every king of gems and covered with many coloured carpets inlaid with gold.
मुवाचेदं धृतराष्ट्रो नरेन्द्रः। युधिष्ठिरं राजपुत्रं च गत्वा मद्वाक्येन क्षिप्रमिहानयस्व॥
Thereupon the ruler of men, Dhritarashtra, thus spoke to his chief minister, the learned Vidura, “Going (to Indraprastha), soon bring the prince Yudhishthira here at my command.
सभेयं मे बहुरत्ना विचित्रा शय्यासनैरुपपन्ना महाहैः। सा दृश्यतां भ्रातृभिः सार्धमेत्य सुहृद्यूतं वर्ततामत्र चेति॥ :।
Coming here with his brothers, let him see my this beautiful Assembly-hall furnished with countless gems and jewels and with costly beds and carpets. Let then a friendly match at dice by played in that Hall."