"Sakuni said.--'O Duryodhana, thou shouldst not be jealous of
Yudhishthira. The sons of Pandu are enjoying what they deserve in
consequence of their own good fortune. O slayer of foes, O great king,
thou couldst not destroy them by repeatedly devising numberless plans,
many of which thou hadst even put to practice. Those tigers among men
out of sheer luck escaped all those machinations. They have obtained
Draupadi for wife and Drupada with his sons as also Vasudeva of great
prowess as allies, capable of helping them in subjugating the whole
world. And O king, having inherited the paternal share of the kingdom
without being deprived of it they have grown in consequence of their
own energy. What is there to make thee sorry for this? Having gratified
Hustasana, Dhananjaya hath obtained the bow Gandiva and the couple of
inexhaustible quivers and many celestial weapons. With that unique bow
and by the strength of his own arms also he hath brought all the kings
of the world under his sway. What is there to make thee sorry for this?
Having saved the Asura Maya from a conflagration, Arjuna, that slayer
of foes, using both his hands with equal skill, caused him to build
that assembly house. And it is for this also that commanded by Maya,
those grim Rakshasas called Kinkaras supported that assembly house.
What is there in this to make thee sorry? Thou hast said, O king, that
thou art without allies. This, O Bharata, is not true. These thy
brothers are obedient to thee. Drona of great prowess and wielding the
large bow along with his son, Radha's son Karna, the great warrior
Gautama (Kripa), myself with my brothers and king Saumadatti--these are
thy allies. Uniting thyself with these, conquer thou the whole of the
earth.'
"Duryodhana said,--'O king, with thee, as also with these great
warriors, I shall subjugate the Pandavas, if it pleases thee. If I can
now subjugate them, the world will be mine and all the monarchs, and
that assembly house so full of wealth.'
"Sakuni replied,--'Dhananjaya and Vasudeva, Bhimasena and Yudhishthira,
Nakula and Sahadeva and Drupada with his sons,--these cannot be
vanquished in battle by even the celestials, for they are all great
warriors wielding the largest bows, accomplished in weapons, and
delighting in battle. But, O king, I know the means by which
Yudhishthira himself may be vanquished. Listen to me and adopt it.'
"Duryodhana said,--'without danger to our friends and other illustrious
men, O uncle, tell me if there is any way by which I may vanquish him.'
"Sakuni said,--'The son of Kunti is very fond of dice-play although he
doth not know how to play. That king if asked to play, is ill able to
refuse. I am skillful at dice. There is none equal to me in this
respect on earth, no, not even in the three worlds, O son of Kuru.
Therefore, ask him to play at dice. Skilled at dice, I will win his
kingdom, and that splendid prosperity of his for thee, O bull among
men. But, O Duryodhana, represent all this unto the king
(Dhritarashtra). Commanded by thy father I will win without doubt the
whole of Yudhishthira's possessions.'
"Duryodhana said 'O son of Suvala, thou thyself represent properly all
this to Dhritarashtra, the chief of the Kurus. I shall not be able to
do so.'"