194.1 Vidura appeals to Dritharashtra
During the course of this gambling, certain to bring about utter ruin on Yudhishthira, Vidura, that dispeller of all doubts, addressing Dhritarashtra said, 'O great king, attend to what I say, although my words may not be agreeable to you, like medicine to one that is ill and about to breathe his last. When this Duryodhana of sinful mind had, immediately after his birth, cried discordantly like a jackal, it was well known that he had been ordained to bring about the destruction of the Bharata race. Know that he will be the cause of death of you all. A jackal is living in your house, O king, in the form of Duryodhana. You do not know it in consequence of your folly. Listen now to the words of the Poet Sukra which I will quote. They that collect honey in mountains, having received what they seek, do not notice that they are about to fall. Ascending dangerous heights, abstracted in the pursuit of what they seek, they fall down and meet with destruction. This Duryodhana also, maddened with the play at dice, like the collector of honey, abstracted in what he seeks, does not mark the consequences. Making enemies of these great warriors, he does not behold the fall that is before him. It is known to you, O thou of great wisdom, that amongst the Bhojas, they abandoned, for the good of the citizens a son that was unworthy of their race. The Andhakas, the Yadavas, and the Bhojas uniting together, abandoned Kansa. And afterwards, when at the command of the whole tribe, the same Kansa had been slain by Krishna that slayer of foes, all the men of the tribe became exceedingly happy for a hundred years. So at your command, let Arjuna slay this Suyodhana. And in consequence of the slaying of this wretch, let the Kurus be glad and pass their days in happiness. In exchange of a crow, buy these peacocks--the Pandavas; and in exchange of a jackal, buy these tigers. For the sake of a family a member may be sacrificed; for the sake of a village a family may be sacrificed, for the sake of a province a village may be sacrificed and for the sake of one's own soul the whole earth may be sacrificed. Even this was what the omniscient Kavya himself, acquainted with the thoughts of every creature, and a source of terror unto all foes, said unto the great Asuras to induce them to abandon Jambha at the moment of his birth. It is said that a certain king, having caused a number of wild birds that vomited gold to take up their quarters in his own house, afterwards killed them from temptation. Blinded by temptation and the desire of enjoyment, for the sake of gold, the king destroyed at the same time both his present and future gains. Therefore do not prosecute the Pandavas from desire of profit, even like the king in story. For then, blinded by folly you wilt have to repent afterwards, even like the person that killed the birds. Like a flower-seller that plucks many flowers in the garden from trees that he cherishes with affection from day to day, continue, O Bharata, to pluck flowers day by day from the Pandavas. Do not scorch them to their roots like a fire-producing breeze that reduces everything to black charcoal. Go not, O king, unto the region of Yama, with thy sons and troops, for who is there that is capable of fighting with the sons of Pritha, together? Not to speak of others, is the chief of the celestials at the head of the celestials themselves, capable of doing so?"
Vidura continued "Gambling is the root of dissensions. It brings about disunion. Its consequences are frightful. Yet having recourse to this, Dhritarashtra's son Duryodhana creates for himself fierce enmity. The descendants of Pratipa and Santanu, with their fierce troops and their allies the Vahlikas, will, for the sins of Duryodhana meet with destruction. Duryodhana, in consequence of this intoxication, forcibly drives away luck and prosperity from his kingdom, even like an infuriated bull breaking his own horns himself. That brave and learned person who disregarding his own foresight, follows the bent of another man's heart, sinks in terrible affliction even like one that goes into the sea in a boat guided by a child. Duryodhana is gambling with the son of Pandu, and you are in raptures that he is winning. And it is such success that begets war, which ends in the destruction of men. This fascination of gambling that you have well devised only leads to dire results. Thus have you simply brought on by these counsels great affliction to your heart. And this your quarrel with Yudhishthira, who is so closely related to you, even if you had not foreseen it, is still approved by you. Listen, ye sons of Santanu, ye descendants of Pratipa, who are now in this assembly of the Kauravas, to these words of wisdom. Enter not into the terrible fire that has blazed forth following the wretch. When Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, intoxicated with dice, gives way to his wrath, and Vrikodara and Arjuna and the twins do the same, who, in that hour of confusion, will prove your refuge? O great king, you are yourself a mine of wealth. You can earn by other means as much wealth as you seek to earn by gambling. What do you gain by winning from the Pandavas their vast wealth? Win the Pandavas themselves, who will be to thee more than all the wealth they have. We all know the skill of Suvala in play. This hill-king knows many nefarious methods in gambling. Let Sakuni return from where he came. War not, O Bharata, with the sons of Pandu!"
Vidura continued "Gambling is the root of dissensions. It brings about disunion. Its consequences are frightful. Yet having recourse to this, Dhritarashtra's son Duryodhana creates for himself fierce enmity. The descendants of Pratipa and Santanu, with their fierce troops and their allies the Vahlikas, will, for the sins of Duryodhana meet with destruction. Duryodhana, in consequence of this intoxication, forcibly drives away luck and prosperity from his kingdom, even like an infuriated bull breaking his own horns himself. That brave and learned person who disregarding his own foresight, follows the bent of another man's heart, sinks in terrible affliction even like one that goes into the sea in a boat guided by a child. Duryodhana is gambling with the son of Pandu, and you are in raptures that he is winning. And it is such success that begets war, which ends in the destruction of men. This fascination of gambling that you have well devised only leads to dire results. Thus have you simply brought on by these counsels great affliction to your heart. And this your quarrel with Yudhishthira, who is so closely related to you, even if you had not foreseen it, is still approved by you. Listen, ye sons of Santanu, ye descendants of Pratipa, who are now in this assembly of the Kauravas, to these words of wisdom. Enter not into the terrible fire that has blazed forth following the wretch. When Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, intoxicated with dice, gives way to his wrath, and Vrikodara and Arjuna and the twins do the same, who, in that hour of confusion, will prove your refuge? O great king, you are yourself a mine of wealth. You can earn by other means as much wealth as you seek to earn by gambling. What do you gain by winning from the Pandavas their vast wealth? Win the Pandavas themselves, who will be to thee more than all the wealth they have. We all know the skill of Suvala in play. This hill-king knows many nefarious methods in gambling. Let Sakuni return from where he came. War not, O Bharata, with the sons of Pandu!"