Mahābhārata · Sanskrit Epic
The Game of Dice
द्यूतक्रीडा
Mahābhārata · Sabhā Parva · Dyūta Parva (सभापर्व) · Intermediate Sanskrit
Moral · धर्मः
धर्मस्य प्रश्नः न कदापि तूष्णीं न अवहेलनीयः।
dharmasya praśnaḥ na kadāpi tūṣṇīṃ na avahelanīyaḥ.
“A question of dharma must never be met with silence or dismissal.”
The Invitation
पाण्डवाः इन्द्रप्रस्थे सुखेन राजते स्म। युधिष्ठिरः राजसूयं सम्पन्नं कृतवान् — सः सम्राट् आसीत्। दुर्योधनः ईर्षया जलित्वा शकुनिम् आह्वयत्। "मातुल! उपायेन पाण्डवान् विजयस्व।" शकुनिः कुटिलः आसीत् — द्यूते अद्वितीयः। धृतराष्ट्रः अनिच्छन् अपि पुत्रवात्सल्येन द्यूतम् अनुमन्यते। युधिष्ठिरम् आमन्त्रणं प्रेषयत् — "द्यूताय आगच्छतु।"
The Pandavas lived happily and prosperously in Indraprastha. Yudhishthira had completed the Rajasuya sacrifice — he was emperor. Duryodhana, burning with envy, summoned his uncle Shakuni. "Uncle! Defeat the Pandavas by strategy." Shakuni was cunning — unmatched at dice. Dhritarashtra, though unwilling, permitted the dice game out of love for his son. He sent an invitation to Yudhishthira — "Come for a game of dice."
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