Shakuni Proposes the Game of Dice

Verse 1 (2.75.1)

दुर्योधन न तेऽमर्षः कार्यः प्रति युधिष्ठिरम् । भागधेयानि हि स्वानि पाण्डवा भुञ्जते सदा ॥

duryodhana na te'marṣaḥ kāryaḥ prati yudhiṣṭhiram | bhāgadheyāni hi svāni pāṇḍavā bhuñjate sadā

"Duryodhana, you should not resent Yudhishthira; for the Pandavas always enjoy the fortune that is their own.

Verse 2 (2.75.2)

विधानं विविधाकारं परं तेषां विधानतः । अनेकैरभ्युपायैश्च त्वया न शकिताः पुरा ॥

vidhānaṃ vividhākāraṃ paraṃ teṣāṃ vidhānataḥ | anekairabhyupāyaiśca tvayā na śakitāḥ purā

"What fate has ordained for them is manifold and supreme; even by many devices you could not overcome them before.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 428, after 2.44.1); the second is a variant of CE 2.44.2ab (anekair abhyupāyaiś ca tvayārabdhāḥ purāsakṛt).

Verse 3 (2.75.3)

आरब्धा हि महाराज पुनः पुनररिन्दम । विमुक्ताश्च नरव्याघ्रा भागधेयपुरस्कृताः । उत्साहवन्तः पुरुषा नावसीदन्ति कर्मसु ॥

ārabdhā hi mahārāja punaḥ punararindama | vimuktāśca naravyāghrā bhāgadheyapuraskṛtāḥ | utsāhavantaḥ puruṣā nāvasīdanti karmasu

"Again and again, great king, subduer of foes, they were set upon, yet those tigers among men escaped, shielded by their fortune. Men of energy do not falter in their undertakings.

Note on the text: Corrected भगधेयपुरस्कृताः → भागधेयपुरस्कृताः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ा — the critical edition reads bhāgadheya-). Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). The second line is CE 2.44.2cd; the first and third are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passages 429 and 430, after 2.44.2b).

Verse 4 (2.75.4)

तैर्लब्धा द्रौपदी भार्या द्रुपदश्च सुतैः सह । सहायाः पृथिवीपाला वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान् ॥

tairlabdhā draupadī bhāryā drupadaśca sutaiḥ saha | sahāyāḥ pṛthivīpālā vāsudevaśca vīryavān

"They won Draupadi as their wife, and Drupada with his sons; they won allies among the kings of the earth, and mighty Vasudeva.

Verse 5 (2.75.5)

लब्धश्चानभिभूतार्थैः पित्र्योऽंशः पृथिवीपते । विवृद्धस्तेजसा तेषां तत्र का परिदेवना ॥

labdhaścānabhibhūtārthaiḥ pitryo'ṃśaḥ pṛthivīpate | vivṛddhastejasā teṣāṃ tatra kā paridevanā

"And they, whose purposes were never thwarted, won their ancestral share, lord of the earth, and it has grown through their own vigour. Why lament over that?

Note on the text: Corrected पित्र्योंशः → पित्र्योऽंशः (misprint in Wikisource; the avagraha is missing and the anusvara misplaced — the critical edition reads pitryo 'ṃśaḥ).

Verse 6 (2.75.6)

धनञ्जयेन गाण्डीवमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी । लब्धान्यस्त्राणि दिव्यानि तोषयित्वा हुताशनम् ॥

dhanañjayena gāṇḍīvamakṣayyau ca maheṣudhī | labdhānyastrāṇi divyāni toṣayitvā hutāśanam

"Dhananjaya, by gratifying the Fire-god, won Gandiva, the two inexhaustible great quivers, and divine weapons.

Verse 7 (2.75.7)

तेन कार्मुकमुख्येन बाहुवीर्येण चात्मनः । कृता वशे महीपालास्तत्र का परिदेवना ॥

tena kārmukamukhyena bāhuvīryeṇa cātmanaḥ | kṛtā vaśe mahīpālāstatra kā paridevanā

"With that foremost of bows and the strength of his own arms he brought the kings under his sway. Why lament over that?

Verse 8 (2.75.8)

अग्निदाहान्मयं चापि मोक्षयित्वा स दानवम् । सभां तां कारयामास सव्यसाची परन्तपः ॥

agnidāhānmayaṃ cāpi mokṣayitvā sa dānavam | sabhāṃ tāṃ kārayāmāsa savyasācī parantapaḥ

"Savyasachin, scorcher of foes, saved the Danava Maya from the burning of the forest and had him build that hall.

Verse 9 (2.75.9)

तेन चैव मयेनोक्ताः किङ्करा नाम राक्षसाः । वहन्ति तां सभां भीमास्तत्र का परिदेवना ॥

tena caiva mayenoktāḥ kiṅkarā nāma rākṣasāḥ | vahanti tāṃ sabhāṃ bhīmāstatra kā paridevanā

"And at the bidding of that same Maya, fearsome Rakshasas called Kinkaras carry that hall. Why lament over that?

Note on the text: Corrected हन्ति → वहन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; dropped व, leaving the line a syllable short and the sense 'kill' — the critical edition reads vahanti).

Verse 10 (2.75.10)

यच्चासहायतां राजन्नुक्तवानसि भारत । तन्मिथ्या भ्रातरो हीमे तव सर्वे वशानुगाः ॥

yaccāsahāyatāṃ rājannuktavānasi bhārata | tanmithyā bhrātaro hīme tava sarve vaśānugāḥ

"As for what you said of having no allies, O king, Bharata, that is false; for these brothers of yours are all at your command.

Verse 11 (2.75.11)

द्रोणस्तव महेष्वासः सह पुत्रेण वीर्यवान् । सूतपुत्रश्च राधेयो दृढधन्वा महारथः ॥

droṇastava maheṣvāsaḥ saha putreṇa vīryavān | sūtaputraśca rādheyo dṛḍhadhanvā mahārathaḥ

"Drona the great archer is yours, with his valiant son; and Radheya, the son of the charioteer, a great warrior of the firm bow.

Note on the text: Corrected मूतपुत्रश्च → सूतपुत्रश्च (misprint in Wikisource; म for स — the critical edition reads sūtaputraś ca).

Verse 12 (2.75.12)

स एकः समरे सर्वान्पाण्डवान्सहसोमकान् । विजेष्यति महाबाहो किं सहायैः करिष्यसि ॥

sa ekaḥ samare sarvānpāṇḍavānsahasomakān | vijeṣyati mahābāho kiṃ sahāyaiḥ kariṣyasi

"He alone will conquer all the Pandavas in battle, together with the Somakas, mighty-armed one; what need will you have of allies?

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition prints it in the apparatus as star passage 432, lines 1–2, after 2.44.10).

Verse 13 (2.75.13)

भीष्मश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रो गौतमश्च महारथः । जयद्रथश्च बलवान्सोमदत्तस्तथैव च ॥

bhīṣmaśca puruṣavyāghro gautamaśca mahārathaḥ | jayadrathaśca balavānsomadattastathaiva ca

"Bhishma, tiger among men, and Gautama, the great warrior; mighty Jayadratha, and Somadatta as well;

Note on the text: Corrected बलावान् → बलवान् (misprint in Wikisource; stray ा). Removed a stray wiki quote mark ('). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the first line is star passage 432, line 3, after 2.44.10, in the critical edition's apparatus; the second line there reads jayadrathaś ca balavān kṛtāstro dṛḍhadhanvakaḥ, without Somadatta).

Verse 14 (2.75.14)

अहं च सह सोदर्यैः सौमदत्तिश्च पार्थिवः । एतैस्त्वं सहितः सर्वैर्जय कृत्स्नं वसुन्धराम् ॥

ahaṃ ca saha sodaryaiḥ saumadattiśca pārthivaḥ | etaistvaṃ sahitaḥ sarvairjaya kṛtsnaṃ vasundharām

"and I myself with my brothers, and King Saumadatti: together with all of these, conquer the whole earth."

Note on the text: Corrected वसुन्दराम् → वसुन्धराम् (misprint in Wikisource; द for ध — the critical edition reads vasuṃdharām).

Verse 15 (2.75.15)

त्वया च सहितो राजन्नेतैश्चान्यैर्महारथैः । एतानहं विजेष्यामि यदि त्वमनुमन्यसे ॥

tvayā ca sahito rājannetaiścānyairmahārathaiḥ | etānahaṃ vijeṣyāmi yadi tvamanumanyase

"With you, O king, and with these and other great warriors, I will conquer them, if you consent.

Verse 16 (2.75.16)

एतेषु विजितेष्वद्य भविष्यति मही मम । सर्वे च पृथिवीपालाः सभा सा च महाधना ॥

eteṣu vijiteṣvadya bhaviṣyati mahī mama | sarve ca pṛthivīpālāḥ sabhā sā ca mahādhanā

"Once they are conquered, the earth will be mine this very day, and all the kings, and that hall of great wealth."

Verse 17 (2.75.17)

धनञ्जयो वासुदेवो भीमसेनो युधिष्ठिरः । नकुलः सहदेवश्च द्रुपदश्च सहात्मजैः ॥

dhanañjayo vāsudevo bhīmaseno yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | nakulaḥ sahadevaśca drupadaśca sahātmajaiḥ

"Dhananjaya, Vasudeva, Bhimasena, Yudhishthira, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Drupada with his sons:

Verse 18 (2.75.18)

नैते युधि पराजेतुं शक्या देवगणैरपि । महारथा महेष्वासाः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः ॥

naite yudhi parājetuṃ śakyā devagaṇairapi | mahārathā maheṣvāsāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ

"these cannot be defeated in battle even by the hosts of the gods. They are great warriors, great archers, masters of weapons, wild in battle.

Verse 19 (2.75.19)

अहं तु तद्विजानामि विजेतुं येन शक्यते । युधिष्ठिरं स्वयं राजंस्तन्निबोध जुषस्व च ॥

ahaṃ tu tadvijānāmi vijetuṃ yena śakyate | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ svayaṃ rājaṃstannibodha juṣasva ca

"But I know the way by which Yudhishthira himself can be conquered, O king. Hear it and take it up."

Verse 20 (2.75.20)

अप्रमादेन सुहृदामन्येषां च महात्मनाम् । यदि शक्या विजेतुं ते तन्ममाचक्ष्व मातुल ॥

apramādena suhṛdāmanyeṣāṃ ca mahātmanām | yadi śakyā vijetuṃ te tanmamācakṣva mātula

"If they can be conquered without risk to our friends and to other great-souled men, tell me how, uncle."

Verse 21 (2.75.21)

द्यूतप्रियश्च कौन्तेयो न स जानाति देवितुम् । समाहूतश्च राजेन्द्रो न शक्ष्यति निवर्तितुम् ॥

dyūtapriyaśca kaunteyo na sa jānāti devitum | samāhūtaśca rājendro na śakṣyati nivartitum

"The son of Kunti loves dice, but he does not know how to play; and once challenged, that lord of kings will not be able to hold back.

Note on the text: Corrected तिवर्तितुम् → निवर्तितुम् (misprint in Wikisource; त for न — the critical edition reads nivartitum).

Verse 22 (2.75.22)

देवने कुशलश्चाहं न मेऽस्ति सदृशो भुवि । त्रिषु लोकेषु कौरव्य तं त्वं द्यूते समाह्वय ॥

devane kuśalaścāhaṃ na me'sti sadṛśo bhuvi | triṣu lokeṣu kauravya taṃ tvaṃ dyūte samāhvaya

"I am skilled at dice; there is none like me on earth, nor in the three worlds, Kauravya. Challenge him to a game of dice.

Verse 23 (2.75.23)

तस्याक्षकुशलो राजन्नादास्येऽहमसंशयम् । राज्यं श्रियं च तां दीप्तां त्वदर्थं पुरुषर्षभ ॥

tasyākṣakuśalo rājannādāsye'hamasaṃśayam | rājyaṃ śriyaṃ ca tāṃ dīptāṃ tvadarthaṃ puruṣarṣabha

"Skilled in dice as I am, O king, I shall without doubt take from him his kingdom and that blazing fortune, for your sake, bull among men.

Verse 24 (2.75.24)

इदं तु सर्वं त्वं राज्ञे दुर्योधन निवेदय । अनुज्ञातस्तु ते पित्रा विजेष्ये तान्न संशयः ॥

idaṃ tu sarvaṃ tvaṃ rājñe duryodhana nivedaya | anujñātastu te pitrā vijeṣye tānna saṃśayaḥ

"But tell all this to the king, Duryodhana. Once your father gives me leave, I shall conquer them, there is no doubt."

Verse 25 (2.75.25)

त्वमेव कुरुमुख्याय धृतराष्ट्राय सौबल । निवेदय यथान्यायं नाहं शक्ष्ये निवेदितुम् ॥

tvameva kurumukhyāya dhṛtarāṣṭrāya saubala | nivedaya yathānyāyaṃ nāhaṃ śakṣye niveditum

"You yourself, son of Subala, tell it properly to Dhritarashtra, chief of the Kurus; I shall not be able to tell him."

Note on the text: Corrected करुमुख्याय → कुरुमुख्याय (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ु — the critical edition reads kurumukhyāya).