Vidura Urges Dhritarashtra to Stop the Game

Verse 1 (2.86.1)

एवं प्रवर्तिते द्यूते घोरे सर्वापहारिणि । सर्वसंशयनिर्मोक्ता विदुरो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

evaṃ pravartite dyūte ghore sarvāpahāriṇi | sarvasaṃśayanirmoktā viduro vākyamabravīt

As the dreadful game of dice went on in this way, sweeping everything away, Vidura, who dispels every doubt, spoke these words.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition prints these lines in the apparatus as star passage 514, after the speaker line of 2.55.1).

Verse 2 (2.86.2)

महाराज विजानीहि यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि भारत । मुमूर्षोरौषधमिव न रोचेतापि ते श्रुतम् ॥

mahārāja vijānīhi yattvāṃ vakṣyāmi bhārata | mumūrṣorauṣadhamiva na rocetāpi te śrutam

Great king, O Bharata, understand what I am about to tell you, even though, like medicine to a dying man, it may not please you to hear it.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vidura's speech fills verses 2–27 without a printed heading (the critical edition heads 2.55.1 विदुर उवाच).

Verse 3 (2.86.3)

यद्वै पुरा जातमात्रो रुराव । गोमायुवद्विस्वरं पापचेताः । दुर्योधनो भारतानां कुलघ्नः । सोऽयं युक्तो भवतां कालहेतुः ॥

yadvai purā jātamātro rurāva | gomāyuvadvisvaraṃ pāpacetāḥ | duryodhano bhāratānāṃ kulaghnaḥ | so'yaṃ yukto bhavatāṃ kālahetuḥ

Long ago, as soon as he was born, this evil-minded Duryodhana cried out harshly like a jackal. He is the destroyer of the Bharata line; he has been made the cause of death for you all.

Verse 4 (2.86.4)

गृहे वसन्तं गोमायुं त्वं वै मोहान्न बुध्यसे । दुर्योधनस्य रूपेण शृणु काव्यां गिरं मम ॥

gṛhe vasantaṃ gomāyuṃ tvaṃ vai mohānna budhyase | duryodhanasya rūpeṇa śṛṇu kāvyāṃ giraṃ mama

In your delusion you do not see that a jackal is living in your house in the form of Duryodhana. Hear from me the counsel of the sage Kavya (Shukra).

Verse 5 (2.86.5)

मधु वै माध्विको लब्ध्वा प्रपातं नैव बुध्यते । आरुह्य तं मज्जति वा पतनं चाधिगच्छति ॥

madhu vai mādhviko labdhvā prapātaṃ naiva budhyate | āruhya taṃ majjati vā patanaṃ cādhigacchati

A honey-gatherer who has found honey does not notice the precipice. He climbs up after it, and either he is lost there or he falls.

Verse 6 (2.86.6)

सोऽयं मत्तोऽक्षद्यूतेन मधुवन्न परीक्षते । प्रपातं बुध्यते नैव वैरं कृत्वा महारथैः ॥

so'yaṃ matto'kṣadyūtena madhuvanna parīkṣate | prapātaṃ budhyate naiva vairaṃ kṛtvā mahārathaiḥ

So this man, drunk with the game of dice, does not look ahead, like the one greedy for honey. Having made enemies of great warriors, he does not see the fall before him.

Note on the text: Corrected पीरक्षते → परीक्षते (misprint in Wikisource; the verb is parīkṣate, as in the critical edition).

Verse 7 (2.86.7)

विदितं मे महाप्राज्ञ भोजेष्वेवासमञ्जसम् । पुत्रं संत्यक्तवान्पूर्वं पौराणां हितकाम्यया ॥

viditaṃ me mahāprājña bhojeṣvevāsamañjasam | putraṃ saṃtyaktavānpūrvaṃ paurāṇāṃ hitakāmyayā

O you of great wisdom, I know what was done among the Bhojas with one who was unfit: long ago a son was cast off for the good of the citizens.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 7–10 differently from the critical edition. The first line is a variant of CE 2.55.6ab (which reads viditaṃ te mahārāja rājasv evāsamañjasam); the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 516, after 2.55.6).

Verse 8 (2.86.8)

अन्धका यादवा भोजाः समेताः कंसमत्यजन् । नियोगात्तु हते तस्मिन्कृष्णेनामित्रघातिना ॥

andhakā yādavā bhojāḥ sametāḥ kaṃsamatyajan | niyogāttu hate tasminkṛṣṇenāmitraghātinā

The Andhakas, Yadavas and Bhojas joined together and abandoned Kamsa; and when, as fate ordained, he was slain by Krishna, the slayer of enemies,

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.55.6cd and 2.55.7ab (the critical edition reads niyogāc ca).

Verse 9 (2.86.9)

एवं ते ज्ञातयः सर्वे मोदमानाः शतं समाः । त्वन्नियुक्तः सव्यसाची निगृह्णातु सुयोधनम् ॥

evaṃ te jñātayaḥ sarve modamānāḥ śataṃ samāḥ | tvanniyuktaḥ savyasācī nigṛhṇātu suyodhanam

all his kinsmen lived on in joy for a hundred years. Let Savyasachin, at your command, restrain Suyodhana.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.55.7cd and 2.55.8ab.

Verse 10 (2.86.10)

निग्रहादस्य पापस्य मोदन्तां कुरवः सुखम् । काकेनेमांश्चित्रवर्हाञ्शार्दूलान्क्रोष्टुकेन च । क्रीणीष्व पाण्डवान्राजन्मा मज्जीः शोकसागरे ॥

nigrahādasya pāpasya modantāṃ kuravaḥ sukham | kākenemāṃścitravarhāñśārdūlānkroṣṭukena ca | krīṇīṣva pāṇḍavānrājanmā majjīḥ śokasāgare

By restraining this wicked one, let the Kurus live in happiness. Buy these peacocks with a crow, these tigers with a jackal: buy the Pandavas, O king, and do not sink into an ocean of grief.

Note on the text: Corrected पादस्य → पापस्य (misprint in Wikisource; "of this wicked one", as in the critical edition). Corresponds to CE 2.55.8cd and 2.55.9.

Verse 11 (2.86.11)

त्यजेत्कुलार्थे पुरुषं ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् । ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥

tyajetkulārthe puruṣaṃ grāmasyārthe kulaṃ tyajet | grāmaṃ janapadasyārthe ātmārthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet

For the sake of a family one should give up a single man; for the sake of a village, give up a family; for the sake of a country, give up a village; and for the sake of one's self, give up the earth.

Verse 12 (2.86.12)

सर्वज्ञः सर्वभावज्ञः सर्वशत्रुभयङ्करः । इति स्म भाषते काव्यो जम्भत्यागे महाऽसुरान् ॥

sarvajñaḥ sarvabhāvajñaḥ sarvaśatrubhayaṅkaraḥ | iti sma bhāṣate kāvyo jambhatyāge mahā'surān

So spoke Kavya, who knows all things, who understands every heart and strikes fear into every enemy, to the great Asuras when Jambha was to be given up.

Verse 13 (2.86.13)

हिरण्यष्ठीविनः कांश्चित्पक्षिणो वनगोचरान् । गृहे किल कृतावासाँल्लोभाद्राजा न्यपीडयत् । स चोपभोगलोभान्धो हिरण्यार्थी परन्तप ॥

hiraṇyaṣṭhīvinaḥ kāṃścitpakṣiṇo vanagocarān | gṛhe kila kṛtāvāsām̐llobhādrājā nyapīḍayat | sa copabhogalobhāndho hiraṇyārthī parantapa

Certain forest birds that spat out gold had made their home, it is said, in a king's house, and out of greed the king tormented them. Blinded by greed for enjoyment and hungry for gold, O scorcher of foes,

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: corresponds to CE 2.55.12, with a third line that is a variant of CE 2.55.13ab (which reads sadopabhojyāṃl lobhāndho hiraṇyārthe paraṃtapa).

Verse 14 (2.86.14)

आयतिं च तदात्वं च उभे सद्यो व्यनाशयत् । तदर्थकामस्तद्वत्त्वं माद्रुहः पाण्डवान्नृप ॥

āyatiṃ ca tadātvaṃ ca ubhe sadyo vyanāśayat | tadarthakāmastadvattvaṃ mādruhaḥ pāṇḍavānnṛpa

destroyed at a single stroke both the future and the present. Therefore, O king, do not, like him, wrong the Pandavas out of desire for wealth.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: corresponds to CE 2.55.13cd, with a second line that is a variant of CE 2.55.14ab (which reads tadātvakāmaḥ pāṇḍūṃs tvaṃ mā druho bharatarṣabha).

Verse 15 (2.86.15)

मोहात्मा तप्स्यसे पश्चात्पत्रिहा पुरुषो यथा । जातञ्जातं पाण्डवेभ्यः पुष्पमादत्स्व भारत ॥

mohātmā tapsyase paścātpatrihā puruṣo yathā | jātañjātaṃ pāṇḍavebhyaḥ puṣpamādatsva bhārata

Or, deluded, you will burn with remorse afterwards, like the man who killed the birds. Gather from the Pandavas each flower as it blooms, O Bharata,

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: corresponds to CE 2.55.14cd (which reads tapyase) and 2.55.15ab.

Verse 16 (2.86.16)

मालाकार इवारामे स्नेहं कुर्वन्पुनः पुनः । वृक्षानङ्गारकारीव मैनान्धाक्षीः समूलकान् । मा गमः ससुतामात्यः सबलश्च यमक्षयम् ॥

mālākāra ivārāme snehaṃ kurvanpunaḥ punaḥ | vṛkṣānaṅgārakārīva maināndhākṣīḥ samūlakān | mā gamaḥ sasutāmātyaḥ sabalaśca yamakṣayam

as a gardener in his garden tends the trees with care again and again. Do not burn them down to the roots, as a charcoal-maker burns trees. Do not go, with your sons, your ministers and your army, to the abode of Yama.

Note on the text: Corrected मैनाद्याक्षीः → मैनान्धाक्षीः (misprint in Wikisource; mā enān dhākṣīḥ, "do not burn them", as in the critical edition) and समुतामात्यः → ससुतामात्यः (misprint; "with your sons and ministers", as in the critical edition). Not matched by the alignment: corresponds to CE 2.55.15cd and 2.55.16 (the critical edition ends parābhavam).

Verse 17 (2.86.17)

समवेतान्हि कः पार्थान्प्रतियुध्येत भारत । मरुद्भिः सहितो राजन्नपि साक्षान्मरुत्पतिः ॥

samavetānhi kaḥ pārthānpratiyudhyeta bhārata | marudbhiḥ sahito rājannapi sākṣānmarutpatiḥ

For who could fight the sons of Pritha when they stand together, O Bharata? Not even the lord of the Maruts himself, O king, with the Maruts at his side.

Verse 18 (2.86.18)

द्यूतं मूलं कलहस्याभ्युपैति । मिथो भेदं महते दारुणाय । तदा स्थितोऽयं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रो । दुर्योधनः सृजते वैरमुग्रम् ॥

dyūtaṃ mūlaṃ kalahasyābhyupaiti | mitho bhedaṃ mahate dāruṇāya | tadā sthito'yaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putro | duryodhanaḥ sṛjate vairamugram

Gambling is the root of strife; it leads to mutual division and to great and terrible ruin. Set upon it, this son of Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana, is creating fierce enmity.

Verse 19 (2.86.19)

प्रातिपेयाः शान्तनवा भीमसेनाः सबाह्लिकाः । दुर्योधनापराधेन कृच्छ्रं प्राप्स्यन्ति सर्वशः ॥

prātipeyāḥ śāntanavā bhīmasenāḥ sabāhlikāḥ | duryodhanāparādhena kṛcchraṃ prāpsyanti sarvaśaḥ

The descendants of Pratipa and of Shantanu, the line of Bhimasena, together with the Bahlikas — all of them will come to grief through Duryodhana's offence.

Note on the text: Corrected सबाह्निकाः → सबाह्लिकाः (misprint in Wikisource; the name is Bahlika, as in the critical edition and in 2.88.43 of this text).

Verse 20 (2.86.20)

दुर्योधनो मदेनैव क्षेमं राष्ट्राद्व्यपोहति । विषाणं गौरिव मदात्स्वयमारुजतात्मनः ॥

duryodhano madenaiva kṣemaṃ rāṣṭrādvyapohati | viṣāṇaṃ gauriva madātsvayamārujatātmanaḥ

In his arrogance Duryodhana is driving well-being out of the kingdom, as a bull in its frenzy breaks off its own horn.

Note on the text: Corrected क्षेमं व्यपोहति → क्षेमं राष्ट्राद्व्यपोहति (Wikisource has dropped a word, leaving the line two syllables short; restored राष्ट्राद् from the critical edition, which reads kṣemaṃ rāṣṭrād apohati) and स्वयमारुजतेत्मनः → स्वयमारुजतात्मनः (misprint; ārujate + ātmanaḥ, "breaks its own"; the critical edition reads ārujate balāt).

Verse 21 (2.86.21)

यश्चित्तमन्वेति परस्य राजन् । वीरः कविः स्वामवमत्य दृष्टिम् । नावं समुद्र इव बालनेत्रा- । मारुह्य घोरे व्यसने निमज्जेत् ॥

yaścittamanveti parasya rājan | vīraḥ kaviḥ svāmavamatya dṛṣṭim | nāvaṃ samudra iva bālanetrā- | māruhya ghore vyasane nimajjet

The man who follows another's mind, O king, setting aside his own judgement, brave and wise though he be, sinks into terrible disaster, like one who puts to sea in a boat with an unskilled helmsman.

Verse 22 (2.86.22)

दुर्योधनो ग्लहते पाण्डवेन । प्रीयायसे त्वं जयतीति तच्च । अतिनर्मा जायते संप्रहारो । यतो विनाशः समुपैति पुंसाम् ॥

duryodhano glahate pāṇḍavena | prīyāyase tvaṃ jayatīti tacca | atinarmā jāyate saṃprahāro | yato vināśaḥ samupaiti puṃsām

Duryodhana is staking against the Pandava, and you are overjoyed that he is winning. From such excess of sport comes open conflict, and from that comes the destruction of men.

Verse 23 (2.86.23)

आकर्षस्तेऽवाक्फलः सुप्रणीतो । हृदि प्रौढो मन्त्रपदः समाधिः । युधिष्ठिरेण कलहस्तवाय- । मचिन्तितोऽभिमतः स्वबन्धुना ॥

ākarṣaste'vākphalaḥ supraṇīto | hṛdi prauḍho mantrapadaḥ samādhiḥ | yudhiṣṭhireṇa kalahastavāya- | macintito'bhimataḥ svabandhunā

This dicing of yours, so carefully contrived, bears fruit that drags you down; it is a scheme ripened in the heart through secret counsel. This quarrel with Yudhishthira, your own kinsman, you have welcomed without thought.

Note on the text: The second half differs widely from CE 2.56.6cd (a recension variant).

Verse 24 (2.86.24)

प्रातिपेयाः शान्तनवाः शृणुध्वं । काव्यां वाचं संसदि कौरवाणाम् । वैश्वानरं प्रज्वलितं सुघोरं । मा यास्यध्वं मन्दमनुप्रपन्नाः ॥

prātipeyāḥ śāntanavāḥ śṛṇudhvaṃ | kāvyāṃ vācaṃ saṃsadi kauravāṇām | vaiśvānaraṃ prajvalitaṃ sughoraṃ | mā yāsyadhvaṃ mandamanuprapannāḥ

Descendants of Pratipa and of Shantanu, hear these words of the sage Kavya in the assembly of the Kurus: do not follow a fool into this terrible, blazing fire.

Note on the text: Corrected मन्दमनुप्रपन्नः → मन्दमनुप्रपन्नाः (misprint in Wikisource; the participle must agree with the plural subject of यास्यध्वम्). Not matched by the alignment: a variant of CE 2.56.7, whose last line reads ayuddhena praśamayatotpatantam.

Verse 25 (2.86.25)

यदा मन्युं पाण्डवोऽजातशत्रु- । र्न संयच्छेदक्षमदाभिभूतः । वृकोदरः सव्यसाची यमौ च । कोऽत्र द्वीपः स्यात्तुमुले वस्तदानीम् ॥

yadā manyuṃ pāṇḍavo'jātaśatru- | rna saṃyacchedakṣamadābhibhūtaḥ | vṛkodaraḥ savyasācī yamau ca | ko'tra dvīpaḥ syāttumule vastadānīm

When the Pandava Ajatashatru, overcome by the frenzy of the dice, can no longer hold back his anger, nor Vrikodara, Savyasachin and the twins — what refuge will you have then in the tumult?

Verse 26 (2.86.26)

महाराज प्रभवस्त्वं धनानां । पुरा द्यूतान्मनसा यावदिच्छेः । बहुवित्तान्पाण्डवांश्चेज्जयस्त्वं । किं ते तत्स्याद्वसु विन्देह पार्थान् ॥

mahārāja prabhavastvaṃ dhanānāṃ | purā dyūtānmanasā yāvadiccheḥ | bahuvittānpāṇḍavāṃścejjayastvaṃ | kiṃ te tatsyādvasu vindeha pārthān

Great king, even before this gambling you were master of as much wealth as your heart desired. If you win the Pandavas and their great riches, what will that be to you? Win the Parthas themselves as your wealth.

Verse 27 (2.86.27)

जानीमहे देवितं सौबलस्य । वेद द्यूते निकृतिं पार्वतीयः । यतः प्राप्तः शकुनिस्तत्र यातु । मा यूयुधो भारत पाण्डवेयान् ॥

jānīmahe devitaṃ saubalasya | veda dyūte nikṛtiṃ pārvatīyaḥ | yataḥ prāptaḥ śakunistatra yātu | mā yūyudho bhārata pāṇḍaveyān

We know how Saubala plays; the hill-king knows every trick of the dice. Let Shakuni go back where he came from. Do not drive the Pandavas to war, O Bharata.