Shakuni said: -
1. 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.
2-4. 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.
Duryodhana said: -
5. 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.
Dhritarashtra said: -
6. 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.
Duryodhana said: -
7. O descendant of Kuru, Vidura is always engaged in doing good to the Pandavas. His feelings towards me is not so.
8. 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.
9. The fool who cherishes himself by shunning all causes of fear destroys himself like an insect in the rainy season.
10. Neither disease nor Yama (Death) waits till one is in prosperity. Therefore, so long there is life and breath, let us accomplish this purpose.
Dhritarashtra said: -
11. 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.
12. 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.
Duryodhana said: -
13. 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.
14. 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.
Dhritarashtra said: -
15. 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.
16. 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.
Vaishampayana said: -
17. 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),
18. “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”.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Coining 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.”
Thus ends the fifty sixth chapter, fetching of Yudhishthira, in the Dyuta of the Sabha Parva.