"Vidura said,--'Gambling is the root of dissensions. It bringeth about
disunion. Its consequences are frightful. Yet having recourse to this,
Dhritarashtra's son Duryodhana createth for himself fierce enmity. The
descendants of Pratipa and Santanu, with their fierce troops and their
allies the Vahlikas, will, for the sins of Duryodhana meet with
destruction. Duryodhana, in consequence of this intoxication, forcibly
driveth away luck and prosperity from his kingdom, even like an
infuriate bull breaking his own horns himself. That brave and learned
person who disregarding his own foresight, followeth, O king, (the bent
of) another man's heart, sinketh in terrible affliction even like one
that goeth into the sea in a boat guided by a child. Duryodhana is
gambling with the son of Pandu, and thou art in raptures that he is
winning. And it is such success that begeteth war, which endeth in the
destruction of men. This fascination (of gambling) that thou has
well-devised only leadeth to dire results. Thus hast thou simply
brought on by these counsels great affliction to thy heart. And this
thy quarrel with Yudhishthira, who is so closely related to thee, even
if thou hadst not foreseen it, is still approved by thee. Listen, ye
sons of Santanu, ye descendants of Pratipa, who are now in this
assembly of the Kauravas, to these words of wisdom. Enter ye not into
the terrible fire that hath blazed forth following the wretch. When
Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, intoxicated with dice, giveth way to his
wrath, and Vrikodara and Arjuna and the twins (do the same), who, in
that hour of confusion, will prove your refuge? O great king, thou art
thyself a mine of wealth. Thou canst earn (by other means) as much
wealth as thou seekest to earn by gambling. What dost thou gain by
winning from the Pandavas their vast wealth? Win the Pandavas
themselves, who will be to thee more than all the wealth they have. We
all know the skill of Suvala in play. This hill-king knoweth many
nefarious methods in gambling. Let Sakuni return whence he came. War
not, O Bharata, with the sons of Pandu!'