Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 2.84
हिन्दी · தமிழ் · తెలుగు · ಕನ್ನಡ · മലയാളം · বাংলা · मराठी · ગુજરાતી · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · اردو · English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português · Русский · 中文 · 日本語 · العربية · Bahasa Indonesia · ไทย
2.84.1
प्रविश्य तां सभां पार्था युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः ।
समेत्य पार्थिवान्सर्वान्पूजार्हानभिपूज्य च ॥ २.८४.१ ॥
Entering that assembly hall, led by Yudhiṣṭhira, the Pārthas met all the kings worthy of honour and paid them reverence.
2.84.2
यथावयः समेयाना उपविष्टा यथार्हतः ।
आसनेषु विचित्रेषु स्पर्द्ध्यास्तरणवत्सु च ॥ २.८४.२ ॥
Gathered according to age, they sat according to their rank on variegated seats with rich coverings that vied with one another.
2.84.3
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वथ नृपेषु च ।
शकुनिः सौबलस्तत्र युधिष्ठिरमभाषत ॥ २.८४.३ ॥
When all the kings were seated there, Śakuni, son of Subala, addressed Yudhiṣṭhira.
2.84.4
उपस्तीर्णा सभा राजन्सर्वे त्वयि कृतक्षणाः ।
अक्षानुप्त्वा देवनस्य समयोऽस्तु युधिष्ठिर ॥ २.८४.४ ॥
O king, the hall is prepared and all are ready for you. Yudhiṣṭhira, let a time be fixed for the game, after the dice are cast.
2.84.5
नितिर्देवनं पापं न क्षात्रोऽत्र पराक्रमः ।
न च नीतिर्ध्रुवा राजन्किं त्वं द्यूतं प्रशंससि ॥ २.८४.५ ॥
Gambling is not right conduct but sin; there is no warrior's valour in it, and right conduct is never firm in it. O king, why do you praise dice-play?
2.84.6
हि मानं प्रशंसन्ति निकृतौ कितवस्य हि ।
शकुने मैवं नोऽजैषीरमार्गेण नृशंसवत् ॥ २.८४.६ ॥
Śakuni, a cheating gambler praises his own pride in deceit; do not win over us by unfair means, like a cruel man.
2.84.7
यो वेत्ति सङ्ख्या निकृतौ विधिज्ञ-
श्चेष्टास्वखिन्नः कितवोऽक्षजासु।
महामतिर्यश्च जानाति द्यूतं ।
स वै सर्वं सहते प्रक्रियासु ॥ २.८४.७ ॥
He who knows the count, knows the rules of the cheating game, is untiring in the moves of the dice, of great understanding, and knows the dice-game — he endures everything in the procedures of play.
2.84.8
अक्षग्लहः सोऽभिभवेत्परं न-
स्तेनैव दोषो भवतीह पार्थ।
दीव्यामहे पार्थिव मा विशङ्कां ।
कुरुष्व पाणं च चिरं च मा कृथाः ॥ २.८४.८ ॥
The dice-player may overcome the other; no fault arises here from that alone. O son of Pṛthā, O king, do not doubt; let us play — stake your wager, and do not delay long.
2.84.9
एवमाहायमसितो देवलो मुनिसत्तमः ।
इमानि लोकद्वाराणि यो वै भ्राम्यति सर्वदा ॥ २.८४.९ ॥
Thus spoke Asita Devala, best of sages, who wanders always through these gates of the worlds.
2.84.10
इदं वै देवनं पापं निकृत्या कितवैः सह ।
धर्मेण तु जयो युद्धे तत्परं न तु देवनम् ॥ २.८४.१० ॥
This dice-game is a sinful thing, carried on by deceit with cheating gamblers; but victory by righteousness comes in battle — that is far higher, and it is not gambling.
2.84.11
नार्या म्लेच्छन्ति भाषाभिर्मायया न चरन्त्युत ।
अजिह्यमशठं युद्धमेतत्सत्पुरुषव्रतम् ॥ २.८४.११ ॥
Noble men do not speak like barbarians with their words, nor act by trickery; a straightforward and guileless battle — this is the vow of good men.
2.84.12
शक्तितो ब्राह्मणार्थाय शिक्षितुं प्रयतामहे ।
तद्वै वित्तं मातिदेवीर्माजैषीः शकुने परान् ॥ २.८४.१२ ॥
According to our ability we strive to learn for the sake of brahmins; that indeed is wealth. O Śakuni, do not gamble to excess, do not win over others.
2.84.13
निकृत्या कामये नाहं सुखान्युत धनानि वा ।
कितवस्येह कृतिनो वृत्तमेतन्न पूज्यते ॥ २.८४.१३ ॥
I do not desire pleasures or wealth gained by deceit. Here the conduct of a skilled gambler is not honored.
2.84.14
श्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियानेति निकृत्यैव युधिष्ठिर ।
विद्वानविदुषोऽभ्येति नाहुस्तां निकृतिं जनाः ॥ २.८४.१४ ॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, a learned Brahmin goes to another learned Brahmin only by deceit. The wise go to the unwise, yet people do not call that deceit.
2.84.15
अक्षैर्हि शिक्षितोऽभ्येति निकृत्यैव युधिष्ठिर ।
विद्वानविदुषोऽभ्येति नाहुस्तां निकृतिं जनाः ॥ २.८४.१५ ॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, one trained in dice advances only by deceit. The skilled go to the unskilled, yet people do not call that deceit.
2.84.16
अकृतास्त्रं कृतास्रश्च दुर्बलं बलवत्तरः ।
एवं कर्मसु सर्वेषु निकृत्यैव युधिष्ठिरः।
विद्वानविदुषोभ्येति नाहुस्तां निकृतिं जनाः ॥ २.८४.१६ ॥
The one unskilled in weapons and the one skilled, the weak and the stronger: thus in all actions, O Yudhiṣṭhira, it is done by deceit. The skilled go to the unskilled, yet people do not call that deceit.
2.84.17
एवं त्वं मामिहाभ्येत्य निकृतिं यदि मन्यसे ।
देवनाद्विनिवर्तस्व यदि ते विद्यते भयम् ॥ २.८४.१७ ॥
If you approach me here and think this is deceit, and if you are afraid, then turn back from the game of dice.
2.84.18
आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम् ।
विधिश्च बलवान्राजन्दिष्टस्यास्मि वशे स्थितः ॥ २.८४.१८ ॥
Having been summoned, I shall not turn back—this is my firmly held vow. O king, fate is powerful, and I stand under the sway of destiny.
2.84.19
अस्मिन्समागमे केन देवनं मे भविष्यति ।
प्रतिपाणश्च कोऽन्योस्ति ततो द्यूतं प्रवर्तताम् ॥ २.८४.१९ ॥
In this assembly, who will play dice with me? Who else is my opponent? Then let the dice-play begin.
2.84.20
अहं दातास्मि रत्नानां धनानां च विशाम्पते ।
मदर्थे देविता चायं शकुनिर्मातुलो मम ॥ २.८४.२० ॥
I am the giver of jewels and wealth, O lord of the people. And for my sake this gambler, my maternal uncle Śakuni, will play.
2.84.21
अन्येनान्यस्य वै द्यूतं विषमं प्रतिभाति मे ।
एतद्विद्विन्नुपादत्स्व काममेवं प्रवर्ततम् ॥ २.८४.२१ ॥
A dice-play between one man and another seems unequal to me. Knowing this, accept it; as you wish, let the play proceed in this way.