Section LXV

Duryodhana said,—

'Come, Kshatta, bring hither Draupadi the dear and loved wife of the Pandavas. Let her sweep the chambers, force her thereto, and let the unfortunate one stay where our serving-women are.'

"Vidura said,—

'Dost you not know, O wretch, that by uttering such harsh words you are tying thyself with cords?
Dost you not understand that you are hanging on the edge of a precipice?
Dost you not know that being a deer you provokest so many tigers to rage?
Snakes of deadly venom, provoked to ire, are on your head!

Wretch, do not further provoke them lest you goest to the region of Yama. In my judgement, slavery does not attach to Krishna, in as much as she was staked by the King after he had lost himself and ceased to be his own master.

Like the bamboo that bears fruit only when it is about to die, the son of Dhritarashtra wins this treasure at play. Intoxicated, he perceives nor in these his last moments that dice bring about enmity and frightful terrors.

No man should utter harsh speeches and pierce the hearts of the others.
No man should subjugate his enemies by dice and such other foul means.

No one should utter such words as are disapproved by the Vedas and lead to hell and annoy others. Some one utters from his lips words that are harsh. Stung by them another burns day and night. These words pierce the very heart of another. The learned, therefore, should never utter them, pointing them at others.

A goat had once swallowed a hook, and when it was pierced with it, the hunter placing the head of the animal on the ground tore its throat frightfully in drawing it out. Therefore, O Duryodhana, swallow not the wealth of the Pandavas. Make them not your enemies.

The sons of Pritha never use words such as these. It is only low men that are like dogs who use harsh words towards all classes of people, viz., those that have retired to the woods, those leading domestic lives, those employed in ascetic devotions and those that are of great learning.

Alas! the son of Dhritarashtra knows not that dishonesty is one of the frightful doors of hell.

Alas! many of the Kurus with Dussasana amongst them have followed him in the path of dishonesty in the matter of this play at dice. Even gourds may sink and stones may float, and boats also may always sink in water, still this foolish king, the son of Dhritarashtra, listens not to my words that are even as regimen unto him. Without doubt, he will be the cause of the destruction of the Kurus.

When the words of wisdom spoken by friends and which are even as fit regimen are not listened to, but on the other hand temptation is on the increase, a frightful and universal destruction is sure to overtake all the Kurus."