An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s3.550

An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s3.550

Language: English

c5.s3.550.1

Dyūtaparvan (“the section relating to the gambling,” the 28th of the minor parvans of the Mhbhr.). § 10 (Parvas.): I, 2, 319. — § 293: When Vyāsa with his disciples came to take leave, Yudhiṣṭhira asked him about the celestial, atmospheric, and terrestrial portents which, according to the statement of Nārada, had happened at the rājasūya. Vyāsa said that in thirteen years they would be fulfilled by the destruction of all the kṣatriyas, and that Yudhiṣṭhira would that very night see Śiva gazing incessantly towards the direction presided over by the king of the Pitṛs (i.e. the south). Then Vyāsa with his disciples proceeded towards Kailāsa. Yudhiṣṭhira resolved to die in order that he might not be the cause of the destruction of the kṣatriyas, but called back from his intention by Phālguna (i.e. Arjuna), he took upon him the vow not to speak a harsh word to his brothers or to any of the kings. Then, having gratified the Pitṛs and gods, he entered his own palace, accompanied by his ministers (II, 46). — § 294: Duryodhana, accompanied by Śakuni, and by beheld all the sabhā; he mistook a piece of crystal for water and drew off his clothes, mistook a lake for land and fell in, etc., and was laughed at by Bhīma, Arjuna, the twins, and the menials of the palace. Filled with wrath and jealousy he became pale, and returned to Hāstinapura, together with Śakuni (II, 47). Śakuni told him to ask Yudhiṣṭhira, who was very fond of gambling and did not know how to play, to play at dice;

c5.s3.550.2

then he (Śakuni), who was skilled in dice, would win his kingdom and prosperity for Duryodhana (II, 48). Śakuni told Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana was pale and depressed; Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked Duryodhana the cause; Duryodhana told him that Yudhiṣṭhira supported 88,000 snātakas, giving to each of them thirty slave-girls; that 10,000 other brahmans daily ate at his palace the best food off golden plates; that the king of Kāmbhoja sent to him innumerable skins, etc.; that the ocean brought the Vāruṇa nectar to him in a vessel of copper, as the celestial wives (amarastriyaḥ) to Indra; that Vāsudeva, having brought an excellent conch, bathed him with sea-water brought in 1,000 jars of gold, etc., from the eastern, southern, and western oceans; that the conches, which were blown when 100,000 brahmans were fed, could be heard there almost incessantly, etc. Duryodhana proposed to Dhṛtarāṣṭra to invite Yudhiṣṭhira to a game at dice with Śakuni, and prevented him from consulting Vidura till he had had a sabhā built. Then he ordered Vidura, who dissuaded him in vain, to invite Yudhiṣṭhira. Vidura in great sorrow went to Bhīṣma (II, 49). — At the request of Janamejaya, Vaiśampāyana related that Dhṛtarāṣṭra, having ascertained the opinion of Vidura (b), sought to bring Duryodhana back from his purpose to play at dice;

c5.s3.550.3

but Duryodhana would not give way, relating that the Nipas, Citrakas, the Kaukaras, the Kāraskaras, and the Lohajanghas were like bondsmen in the house of Yudhiṣṭhira, and that Bhīma, Arjuna, and Draupadī had laughed at his mistake regarding the crystal, etc. (II, 50). — § 295: Duryodhana enumerated to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the articles brought as tribute from various peoples to Yudhiṣṭhira. Yājñasenī (i.e. Kṛṣṇā) daily (during the rājasūya) took care that everybody, including the deformed and the dwarfs, had eaten before she herself took her meal. Only two peoples did not pay tribute to Yudhiṣṭhira, the Pāñcālas, in consequence of their relationship by marriage, and the Andhaka-Vṛṣṇis, in consequence of their friendship (II, 52). — § 296: Duryodhana continued to enumerate kings, etc., who waited upon Yudhiṣṭhira at the rājasūya. The Ocean brought that Vāruṇa conch (śaikyam, “in a sling,” PCR., i.e. in a strap, cf. BR.), which Viçvakarman had constructed with 1,000 niṣkas, and which Prajāpati had in a former kalpa presented to Indra; with that conch Kṛṣṇa anointed (abhiṣiktaḥ) Yudhiṣṭhira. When the conches were blown, those among the kings who were weak fell down, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Satyaki, the Pāṇḍavas, and Keçava laughed;

c5.s3.550.4

then Bibhatsu (= Arjuna) gave to the principal brahmans 500 hullocks with horns plated with gold, and Yudhiṣṭhira obtained, like Hariçcandra, such prosperity that he surpassed Rantideva, Nābhāga, Yauvanāçva, Manu, Pṛthu Vainya, Bhagīratha, Yayāti, and Nahuṣa (II, 53). — § 297: Continuation of the conversation between Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana (II, 54, 55). — § 298: As Śakuni recommended the match of dice and praised his own dexterity in gambling, and Duryodhana spoke reprovingly of Vidura on account of his fondness for the Pāṇḍavas, etc., Dhṛtarāṣṭra reluctantly caused the sabhā (called Toraṇasphaṭikā) to be built, with 1,000 columns adorned with gold and lapis lazuli, a kroça in length and breadth, and then ordered Vidura to bring Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers (II, 56, 57). Vidura arrived at the palace of Yudhiṣṭhira and invited him. Yudhiṣṭhira, having learned that he should have to play with Śakuni, Vivimçati, Citrasena, Satyavrata, Purumitra, and Jaya, “the most desperate and terrible gamblers, always depending upon deceit,” was unwilling to come; but as he had made the vow never to refuse when challenged, he set out for Hāstinapura the next day with his relatives, Draupadī, brahmans, etc., riding on the chariot taken charge of (so BR.) by Bāhlika, and when he had arrived he saluted Bhīṣma, Drona, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Aṣvatthāman, Somadatta, Duryodhana, Çalya, Saubala, Duḥçāsana, Jayadratha, etc., and Gāndhārī and Dhṛtarāṣṭra (II, 58). Śakuni exhorted Yudhiṣṭhira to gamble.

c5.s3.550.5

Yudhiṣṭhira quoted Asita Devala (b), but he was obliged to assent; Duryodhana said that he himself would supply jewels, etc., and that it was for him that Śakuni would play (II, 59). The play began, the stake being a wreath of pearls, which Śakuni won (II, 60). Śakuni then won from Yudhiṣṭhira his treasury, slave-girls, serving-men, elephants, chariots, the Gandharva horses which Citrasena had given to Arjuna, his warriors, and nidhis (II, 61). Vidura, addressing Dhṛtarāṣṭra, quoted the words of Kāvya, and reminded him that among the Bhojas they had abandoned an unworthy (asamañjasam) son; the Andhakas, Yādavas, and Bhojas had abandoned Kamsa, and when he had been slain by Kṛṣṇa the whole tribe became glad for a hundred years; “[likewise] let Arjuna slay this Suyodhana at thy command”; he quoted what Kāvya said to the Asuras in order to induce them to abandon Jambha, and related how a king from greediness after gold killed some gold-vomiting fowls that dwelt in his house, and so destroyed both his present and future wealth (II, 62). Vidura warned against the gambling, and suggested to Dhṛtarāṣṭra rather to win the Pāṇḍavas than their wealth, and to let Śakuni, the hill-king (Pārealiyak), return whence he came (II, 63). Duryodhana blamed Vidura for his partiality towards the Pāṇḍavas, and said that he would only follow the advice of his own intellect.