Section XLVII

"Sakuni said.—

'O Duryodhana, you should 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, you couldst not destroy them by repeatedly devising numberless plans, many of which you had 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 you sorry for this? Having gratified Hustasana, Dhananjaya has 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 has brought all the kings of the world under his sway.

What is there to make you 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 you sorry? You have said, O king, that you are without allies.

This, O Bharata, is not true. These your brothers are obedient to you. 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 your allies. Uniting thyself with these, conquer you the whole of the earth.'

"Duryodhana said,—

'O king, with you, as also with these great warriors, I shall subjugate the Pandavas, if it pleases you. 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 does 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 you, O bull among men.

But, O Duryodhana, represent all this unto the king (Dhritarashtra). Commanded by your father I will win without doubt the whole of Yudhishthira’s possessions.'

"Duryodhana said

'O son of Suvala, you thyself represent properly all this to Dhritarashtra, the chief of the Kurus. I shall not be able to do so.