Janamejaya said,--"How did the sons of Dhritarashtra feel, when they
came to know that the Pandavas had, with Dhritarashtra's leave, left
Hastinapore with all their wealth and jewels?"
Vaisampayana said,--"O king, learning that the Pandavas had been
commanded by the wise Dhritarashtra to return to their capital,
Dussasana went without loss of time unto his brother. And, O bull of
the Bharata race, having arrived before Duryodhana with his counsellor,
the prince, afflicted with grief, began to say,--'Ye mighty warriors,
that which we had won after so much trouble, the old man (our father)
hath thrown away. Know ye that he hath made over the whole of that
wealth to the foes.' At these words, Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni,
the son of Suvala, all of whom were guided by vanity, united together,
and desirous of counteracting the sons of Pandu, approaching in haste
saw privately the wise king Dhritarashtra--the son of Vichitravirya and
spake unto him these pleasing and artful words. Duryodhana said,--
"'Hast thou not heard, O king, what the learned Vrihaspati the
preceptor of the celestials, said in course of counselling Sakra about
mortals and politics? Even these, O slayer of foes, were the words of
Vrihaspati, "Those enemies that always do wrong by stratagem or force,
should be slain by every means." If, therefore, with the wealth of the
Pandavas, we gratify the kings of the earth and then fight with the
sons of Pandu, what reverses can overtake us? When one hath placed on
the neck and back of venomous snakes full of wrath for encompassing his
destruction, is it possible for him to take them off? Equipped with
weapon and seated on their cars, the angry sons of Pandu like wrathful
and venomous snakes will assuredly annihilate us, O father. Even now
Arjuna proceedeth, encased in mail and furnished with his couple of
quivers, frequently taking up the Gandiva and breathing hard and
casting angry glances around. It hath (also) been heard by us that
Vrikodara, hastily ordering his car to be made ready and riding on it,
is proceeding along, frequently whirling his heavy mace. Nakula also is
going along, with the sword in his grasp and the semi-circular shield
in his hand. And Sahadeva and the king (Yudhishthira) have made signs
clearly testifying to their intentions. Having ascended their cars that
are full of all kinds of arms, they are whipping their horses (for
going to Khandava soon) and assembling their forces. Persecuted thus by
us they are incapable of forgiving us those injuries. Who is there
among them that will forgive that insult to Draupadi? Blest be thou. We
will again gamble with the son of Pandu for sending them to exile. O
bull among men, we are competent to bring them thus under our sway.
Dressed in skins, either we or they defeated at dice, shall repair to
the woods for twelve years. The thirteenth year shall have to be spent
in some inhabited country unrecognised; and, if recognised, an exile
for another twelve years shall be the consequence. Either we or they
shall live so. Let the play begin, casting the dice, let the sons of
Pandu once more play. O bull of the Bharata race, O king, even this is
our highest duty. This Sakuni knoweth well the whole science of dice.
Even if they succeed in observing this vow for thirteen years, we shall
be in the meantime firmly rooted in the kingdom and making alliances,
assemble a vast invincible host and keep them content, so that we
shall, O king, defeat the sons of Pandu if they reappear. Let this plan
recommend itself to thee, O slayer of foes.'
"Dhritarashtra said,--'Bring back the Pandavas then, indeed, even if
they have gone a great way. Let them come at once again to cast dice.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Then Drona, Somadatta and Valhika, Gautama,
Vidura, the son of Drona, and the mighty son of Dhritarashtra by his
Vaisya wife, Bhurisravas, and Bhishma, and that mighty warrior
Vikarna,--all said, 'Let not the play commence. Let there be peace.'
But Dhritarashtra, partial to his sons, disregarding the counsels of
all his wise friends and relatives, summoned the sons of Pandu."