Janamejaya said,--"O thou foremost of all conversant with the Vedas,
how did that game at dice take place, fraught with such evil to the
cousins and through which my grand-sires, the son of Pandu, were
plunged into such sorrow? What kings also were present in that
assembly, and who amongst them approved of the gambling match and who
amongst them forbade it? O sinless one, O chief of regenerate ones, I
desire thee to recite in detail all about this, which, indeed, was the
cause of the destruction of the world."
Santi said,--"Thus addressed by the king, the disciple of Vyasa, endued
with great energy and conversant with the entire Vedas, narrated
everything that had happened."
Vaisampayana said,--"O best of the Bharatas, O great king, if thou
desirest to hear, then listen to me as I narrate to thee everything
again in detail.
"Ascertaining the opinion of Vidura, Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika,
calling Duryodhana told him again in private--'O son of Gandhari, have
nothing to do with dice. Vidura doth not speak well of it. Possessed of
great wisdom, he will never give me advice that is not for my good. I
also regard what Vidura sayeth as exceedingly beneficial for me. Do
that, O son, for I regard it all as for thy good also. Indeed, Vidura
knoweth with all its mysteries the science (of political morality) that
the illustrious and learned and wise Vrihaspati, the celestial Rishi
who is the spiritual guide of Vasava--had unfolded unto the wise chief
of the immortals. And O son, I always accept what Vidura adviseth. O
king, as the wise Uddhava is ever regarded amongst the Vrishnis, so is
Vidura possessed of great intelligence esteemed as the foremost of the
Kurus. Therefore, O son, have nothing to do with dice. It is evident
that dice soweth dissensions. And dissensions are the ruin of the
kingdom. Therefore, O son, abandon this idea of gambling. O son, thou
hast obtained from us what, it hath been ordained, a father and a
mother should give unto their son, viz., ancestral rank and
possessions. Thou art educated and clever in every branch of knowledge,
and hast been brought up with affection in thy paternal dwelling. Born
the eldest among all thy brothers, living within thy own kingdom, why
regardest thou thyself as unhappy? O thou of mighty arms, thou
obtainest food and attire of the very best kind and which is not
obtainable by ordinary men. Why dost thou grieve yet. O son, O
mighty-armed one, ruling thy large ancestral kingdom swelling with
people and wealth, thou shinest as splendidly as the chief of the
celestials in heaven. Thou art possessed of wisdom. It behoveth thee to
tell me what can be the root of this grief that hath made thee so
melancholy.'
"Duryodhana replied,--'I am a sinful wretch, O king, because I eat and
dress beholding (the prosperity of the foes). It hath been said that
man is a wretch who is not filled with jealousy at the sight of his
enemy's prosperity. O exalted one, this kind of prosperity of mine doth
not gratify me. Beholding that blazing prosperity of the son of Kunti,
I am very much pained. I tell thee strong must be my vitality, in as
much as I am living even at the sight of the whole earth owning the
sway of Yudhishthira. The Nipas, the Chitrakas, the Kukkuras, the
Karaskaras, and the Lauha-janghas are living in the palace of
Yudhishthira like bondsmen. The Himavat, the ocean, the regions on the
sea-shore, and the numberless other regions that yield jewels and gems,
have all acknowledged superiority of the mansion of Yudhishthira in
respect of wealth it containeth. And, O Monarch, regarding me as the
eldest and entitled to respect, Yudhishthira having received me
respectfully, appointed me in receiving the jewels and gems (that were
brought as tribute). O Bharata, the limit and the like of the excellent
and invaluable jewels that were brought there have not been seen. And O
king, my hands were fatigued in receiving that wealth. And when I was
tired, they that brought those valuable articles from distant regions
used to wait till I was able to resume my labour. Bringing jewels from
the lake Vindu, the Asura architect Maya constructed (for the Pandavas)
a lake-like surface made of crystal. Beholding the (artificial) lotuses
with which it was filled, I mistook it, O king for water. And seeing me
draw up my clothes (while about to cross it), Vrikodara (Bhima) laughed
at me, regarding me as wanting in jewels and having lost my head at the
sight of the affluence of my enemy. If I had the ability, I would, O
king, without the loss of a moment, slay Vrikodara for that. But, O
monarch, if we endeavour to slay Bhima now, without doubt, ours will be
the fate of Sisupala. O Bharata, that insult by the foe burneth me.
Once again, O king, beholding a similar lake that is really full of
water but which I mistook for a crystal surface, I fell into it. At
that, Bhima with Arjuna once more laughed derisively, and Draupadi also
accompanied by other females joined in the laughter. That paineth my
heart exceedingly. My apparel having been wet, the menials at the
command of the king gave me other clothes. That also is my great
sorrow. And O king, hear now of another mistake that I speak of. In
attempting to pass through what is exactly of the shape of a door but
through which there was really no passage, I struck my forehead against
stone and injured myself. The twins Nakula and Sahadeva beholding from
a distance that I was so hit at the head came and supported me in their
arms, expressing great concern for me. And Sahadeva repeatedly told me,
as if with a smile,--"This O king, is the door. Go this way!" And
Bhimasena, laughing aloud, addressed me and said,--"O son of
Dhritarashtra, this is the door." And, O king I had not even heard of
the names of those gems that I saw in that mansion. And it is for these
reasons that my heart so acheth.'