Critical Edition
विदुर उवाच द्यूतं मूलं कलहस्यानुपाति; मिथोभेदाय महते वा रणाय यदास्थितोऽयं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रो; दुर्योधनः सृजते वैरमुग्रम्
M. N. Dutt: Vidura said Gambling is the root of dissensions. It brings about disunion. Its consequences are frightful. Taking recourse to it, Dhritarashtra's son creates for himself fearful hostility.
Supplementary Passages:
2.56.1 After the ref., K3 ins.: *519 दुर्योधने क्रीडति पाण्डवेन दृष्ट्वा धनं पापमगागतं तत् आनन्दमापश्यसि नैव पातं महाभयं पुत्रवियोगजं त्वम् किं चिन्तयसि द्यूतेऽस्मिन्मज्जमानान्न पश्यसि दुर्योधनापराधेन पुत्रानन्यांश्च भूपते
प्रातिपीयाः शांतनवा भैमसेनाः सबाह्लिकाः दुर्योधनापराधेन कृच्छ्रं प्राप्स्यन्ति सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: The descendants of Pratipa and Shantanu with the Valhikas and their fearful troops all will be destroyed for the fault of Duryodhana.
दुर्योधनो मदेनैव क्षेमं राष्ट्रादपोहति विषाणं गौरिव मदात्स्वयमारुजते बलात्
M. N. Dutt: In consequence of this intoxication, Duryodhana forcibly drives away luck and prosperity from his kingdom like an infuriated bull who breaks his own hours.
यश्चित्तमन्वेति परस्य राज;न्वीरः कविः स्वामतिपत्य दृष्टिम् नावं समुद्र इव बालनेत्रा;मारुह्य घोरे व्यसने निमज्जेत्
M. N. Dutt: O king, that brave and learned man, who follows another man's heart disregarding his own foresight, sinks into terrible affliction like the man who goes into the sea in a boat guided by a child.
दुर्योधनो ग्लहते पाण्डवेन; प्रियायसे त्वं जयतीति तच्च अतिनर्माज्जायते संप्रहारो; यतो विनाशः समुपैति पुंसाम्
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana is gambling with the Pandava (Yudhisthira), and you are in ecstasy of joy that he is winning. It is such success that begets war which (finally) ends in the destruction of men.
Supplementary Passages:
2.56.5 After 5, V1 ins. (a v.l. of 5cd): *520 सर्वाणि मर्माण्यभिसंप्रहारो यतो विनाशः समुपैति पुंसाम्
आकर्षस्तेऽवाक्फलः कुप्रणीतो; हृदि प्रौढो मन्त्रपदः समाधिः युधिष्ठिरेण सफलः संस्तवोऽस्तु; साम्नः सुरिक्तोऽरिमतेः सुधन्वा
AI Translation: Your attraction is without fruit, badly formulated; the mantra-word, firmly established in the heart, is concentration. May the praise of Yudhishthira be fruitful; the bow of the
प्रातिपीयाः शांतनवाश्च राज;न्काव्यां वाचं शृणुत मात्यगाद्वः वैश्वानरं प्रज्वलितं सुघोर;मयुद्धेन प्रशमयतोत्पतन्तम्
AI Translation: The Pratipyas and the Shantanu-s, listen to the speech of the poet, which is beyond your reach. The blazing, terrible fire, which was about to rise up
यदा मन्युं पाण्डवोऽजातशत्रु;र्न संयच्छेदक्षमयाभिभूतः वृकोदरः सव्यसाची यमौ च; कोऽत्र द्वीपः स्यात्तुमुले वस्तदानीम्
M. N. Dutt: When the Pandava, Ajatashatru (Yudhisthira), intoxicated with dice, will be angry, so will be Bhima, Arjuna and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), who (I say) will be your island (refuse) in that hour of confusion?
महाराज प्रभवस्त्वं धनानां; पुरा द्यूतान्मनसा यावदिच्छेः बहु वित्तं पाण्डवांश्चेज्जयेस्त्वं; किं तेन स्याद्वसु विन्देह पार्थान्
M. N. Dutt: O great king, you are yourself a mine of wealth. You can earn as much wealth as you desire to earn by not taking recourse to gambling. What will you gain by winning the vast wealth of the Pandavas? Win the sons of Pritha, who will be more than all the wealth they have?
जानीमहे देवितं सौबलस्य; वेद द्यूते निकृतिं पार्वतीयः यतः प्राप्तः शकुनिस्तत्र यातु; मायायोधी भारत पार्वतीयः
M. N. Dutt: We all know the skill of the son of Subala (Shakuni) in play. This mountain king knows many nefarious methods of gambling. Let Shakuni go back to the place whence he has come. O descendant of Bharata, do not rage a war with the Pandavas.