Vaishampayana said: -
1-3. O king, having been impressed with the great Rajasuya sacrifice of king Yudhishthira and having also learnt the intentions of Duryodhana, from what he said, and also in order to do what was pleasing to him (Duryodhana), the son of Subala, Shakuni, accompanied by Gandhari’s son (Duryodhana) came to the king Dhritarashtra whose knowledge was his eye, seated (on this throne). Approaching that greatly intelligent (king), Shakuni thus spoke to him.
Shakuni said: -
4. O great king, O best of the Bharata race, know that Duryodhana has become colourless, pale, and emaciated with anxiety.
5. Why do you not after due enquiry ascertain the cause of the grief that is in the heart of your eldest son, the grief caused by the enemy?
Dhritarashtra said: -
6. O Duryodhana, O son, what is the cause of your grief? O Kuru prince, if it is fit for me to hear, tell it to me.
7. This Shakuni says you are colourless, pale and emaciated. After reflection I can not find any cause for your grief.
8. O son, all my vast wealth is at your command. Your brothers and our relatives and friends never do anything injurious to you.
9. You wear the best robes, you eat food prepared with meat, you ride the best horses, why then are you pale and emaciated?
10. Costly beds, the charming damsels finely furnished mansions and grounds of sport are at pleasure (when you amuse).
11. All these certainly wait your command as do they in the case of the celestials. O invincible hero, O son, why do you grieve (then) like a destitute person?
Duryodhana said: -
12. I, no doubt, eat and dress but I pass my time all the while like a wretch, for I am a prey to jealousy.
13. He is called a (true) man who lives after having vanquished his enemy in order to liberate his own subjects from the tyranny of that enemy.
14. O descendant of Bharata, contentment and pride destroy (one’s) prosperity. Being engrossed with compassion and fear he can never rise.
15. Seeing the prosperity of Yudhishthira, whatever I enjoy does not gratify or please me. The great and splendid prosperity of the son of Kunti makes me pale.
16. Though I am not now seeing the greatly effulgent prosperity of the son of Kunti, yet knowing the affluence of the foe and my destitution, I (feel as if I) see it before me. For this reason, I am colourless melancholy, pale and emaciated.
17. Yudhishthira supports by giving thirty servant maids to each of eighty-eight thousands Snataka Brahmanas who lead domestic life.
18. Besides these, ten thousand other Brahmanas aaily eat well cooked food from golden plates at the palace of Yudhishthira.
19-20. The king of Kamboja sent to him hundreds and thousands of black darkish and red skins of the deer called Kadali, and also blankets of excellent texture. Hundreds and hundreds and thousands and thousands of female elephants, horses and cows and thirty thousand female camels wander (within his palace); the kings brought them all as tribute when they assembled there.
21. O lord of earth, the kings brought to that foremost of sacrifice heaps of gems and jewels for the son of Kunti.
22. I never heard or saw such enormous wealth as was brought to the sacrifice of the intelligent (son) of Pandu (Yudhishthira).
23. O king, seeing that enormous collection of wealth belonging to the enemy. I cannot enjoy peace of mind. I am afflicted with their thoughts. O king.
24. Being stopped there by the gatekeepers hundreds of Brahmanas, supported by the land presented to them (by Yudhishthira) and possessing wealth of kine, waited at the palace gate with three thousands of millions of tribute.
25. Even having brought with them Ghee in golden Kamandalus (sort of water pot), they could not get admission into the palace.
26. Ocean himself brought to him in vessels of white copper Ambrosia which was generated within his waters and which was superior to that which the wives of the immortal (Soma, i.e. flowers and annual plants) produce for Shakra (Indra)
27. Having brought an excellent conch, Vasudeva bathed him (Yudhishthira at the conclusion of the sacrifice) with they holy water brought in one thousand golden jars inlaid with numerous gems.
28. Seeing all this, I felt myself as if attacked with fever. O best of men, O sire, they (jars) were taken to the eastern and the southern seas.
29. They were also taken to the western sea. But none can go to the northern sea except birds.
30. Arjuna, however, went there and exacted as tribute a vast quantity of wealth. There happened another wonderful incident, which I shall describe to you. Listen to it.
31. When (full) one lac Brahmanas were every day fed, it was arranged (to notify) the fact by blowing conchs in a chorus.
32. O descendant of Bharata, I continually heard (choruses of) conchs blown; and that too often repeatedly. It each time indicated that one lac Brahmanas had been fed. Having heard these sounds, my hairs stood on end.
33. O great king, that palatial grounds crowded with many kings who came there as spectators, looked as beautiful as the cloudless sky studded with stars.
34. O ruler of men, O great king, the monarchs came to the sacrifice of the wise son of Pandu, bringing with them every king of wealth.
35. Like the Vaishyas the kings became the distributors of food to the Brahmanas. Such wealth does not belong even to the king of the celestials (Indra) or to Yama or to Varuna.
36. Or to the lord of the Guhyakas, as belongs to Yudhishthira. O king, seeing that great prosperity of the son of Pandu, my heart is burning. I cannot get peace (of mind).
Shakuni said: -
37. O hero whose prowess is truth, hear the means by which you can obtain the matchless prosperity that you have seen in the Pandava.
38. O descendant of Bharata, I am an adept in dice, superior to all in the world. I can ascertain the success or otherwise of every throw, and also when to stake and when not to stake. I have special knowledge of the play.
39. The son of Kunti (Yudhishthira) is also fond of the play, although he possesses little skill in it. He is sure to come, if challenged to pay or to fight.
40. O lord, I shall always defeat him at every throw by practising deception. I shall win all- his celestial-like wealth; and you will (then) be able to enjoy it.
Vaishampayana said: -
41. Having been thus addressed by Shakuni, the king Duryodhana, without allowing a moment to elapse, spoke thus to Dhritarashtra.
42. O king, this (Shakuni) is an adept in dice; he is ready to win at dice the wealth of the sons of Pandu. You should grant him permission.
Dhritarashtra says: -
43. I always follow the counsel of greatly intelligent Khattwa (Vidura), my minister. Having consulted with him, I shall inform you my decision (in this matter).
44. He is endued with great foresight; keeping the rules of morality before his eyes, he will point out what is good and what is proper for both parties and what should be done in this matter.
Duryodhana said: -
45. If you consult with Kshatta (Vidura) he will make you desist (from it). O king of kings, if you desist (from this), I will certainly kill myself.
46. O king, when I am dead, be happy with Vidura. Enjoy then the whole earth. What need you have with me?
Vaishampayana said: -
47. Hearing his (Duryodhana’s) words of affection. Dhritarashtra, ever ready to do what Duryodhana said, commanded his servant thus.
Dhritarashtra said: -
48. Let artifices be employed to erect without delay a delightful, charming and spacious Sabha with one hundred doors and with one thousand pillars.
49. Having brought carpenters and joiners, set jewels and precious stones all over its walls. Make it handsome and easy of access; and then inform me when everything is complete.
Vaishampayana said: -
50. O great king, having resolved to pacify Duryodhana the ruler of earth, Dhritarashtra, sent men to Vidura to summon him (before his presence).
51. Because without asking Vidura, he (Dhritarashtra) never framed any resolution. Knowing (full well) the evils of gambling, he was still attracted towards it out of his fondness for his son.
52. Having heard this, the intelligent Vidura knew that the arrival of Kali (Yuga) is near at hand. Seeing also the way to destruction (of the Kuru race) about to the opened, he soon came to Dhritarashtra.
53. Coming to his illustrious eldest brother and bowing his head to his feet, he thus spoke to him.
Vidura said: -
54. O king, O lord, I do not approve of the resolution you have formed. You should act in such a way that no dispute may arise amongst your sons on account of this gambling.
Dhritarashtra said: -
55. O Khattwa, there is no doubt that if the gods are propitious to us, no dispute will ever arise amongst my children.
56. Auspicious or not auspicious, beneficial or not beneficial, let this friendly gambling match be held. This is certainly what Fate has ordained (for us).
57. O descendant of Bharata, when Drona, Bhishma, you and I will be near at hand, no evil, can possible happen, even if Fate has ordained it.
58. Go ascending a car yoked with horses possessing the speed of wind, so that you may reach Khandavaprastha today. Bring Yudhishthira with you.
59. O Vidura, I tell you, this is my resolution. Do not tell me anything. I regard Fate as supreme; she brings all this.
Vaishampayana said: -
61. Having heard this, and having concluded that his race was doomed, the intelligent Vidura went to the greatly wise Bhishma in great sorrow.
Thus ends the forty-ninth chapter, the lamentations of Duryodhana, in the Dyuta of the Sabha Parva.