SHAKUNI’S MARCH TOWARDS VICTORY

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 60 - SHAKUNI’S MARCH TOWARDS VICTORY

“Yudhishthira said, ‘You have won this stake of me by unfair means. But be not so proud, O Shakuni. Let us play staking thousands upon thousands. I have many beautiful jars each full of a thousand Nishkas in my treasury, inexhaustible gold, and much silver and other minerals. This, O king, is the wealth with which I will stake with you!’

“Vaishampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed, Shakuni said to the chief of the preservers of the Kuru race, the eldest of the Paandavaas, king Yudhishthira, of glory incapable of sustaining any decline, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘This my sacred, victorious and royal chariot which gladdens the heart and has carried us here, which is equal to a thousand chariots, which is of symmetrical proportions, covered with tiger-skin, furnished with excellent wheels and flag-staffs which is beautiful, decorated with strings of little bells, whose sound is like the roar of the clouds or of the ocean, which is drawn by eight noble horses known all over the kingdom, which are white as the moon-beam and from whose foot (of the horse) no terrestrial creature can escape – this, O king, is my wealth with which I will stake with you!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, Shakuni ready with the dice, and adopting unfair means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have a hundred thousand serving-girls, all young, decorated with golden bracelets on their wrists and upper arms, with nishkas round their necks and other ornaments, adorned with costly garlands and attired in rich robes, covered with the sandal paste, wearing jewels and gold, well-skilled in sixty four elegant arts, especially versed in dancing and singing, and who wait upon and serve at my command Devas, Snaataka Brahmanas, and kings. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with you!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, Shakuni ready with the dice, adopting unfair means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have thousands of serving-men, skilled in waiting upon guests, always attired in silk garments, filled with wisdom and intelligence, their senses under control though young, decorated with ear-rings, who serve all guests night and day with plates and dishes in hand. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with you!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, Shakuni, ready with the dice, adopting unfair means said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have, O Saubala (also known as Shakuni), one thousand musty elephants with golden belts, decorated with ornaments, with the mark of the lotus on their temples, necks and other parts, adorned with golden garlands, with fine white tusks long and thick as (agricultural) plough-shafts, worthy of carrying kings on their backs, capable of bearing every kind of noise on the battlefield, with huge bodies, capable of battering down the walls of hostile towns, of the colour of new-formed clouds, and each possessing eight female-elephants. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with you.’

“Vaishampayana continued, ‘To Yudhishthira who had said so, Shakuni – the Saubala, laughingly said, ‘Look, I have won it!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have as many chariots as elephants, all furnished with golden poles and flag-staffs, well-trained horses and warriors that fight wonderfully and each of whom receives a thousand coins as his monthly pay (Maasakaalikam in Sanskrit) whether he fights or not. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with you!’

“Vaishampayana continued, ‘When these words had been spoken, the Duraatma Shakuni, pledged to enmity, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won it.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘The horses of the Tittiri, Kalmaashaa, and Gaandharvaa breeds, decorated with ornaments, which (Gandharva) Chitraratha having been vanquished in battle and subdued cheerfully gave to Arjuna, the wielder of the Gaandeeva. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with you.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni, ready at dice, adopting unfair means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have ten thousand chariots and vehicles to which are attached draught animals of the foremost breed. I have also sixty thousand warriors picked from each varna by thousands, who are all brave and filled with prowess like heroes (Veera in Sanskrit), who drink milk and eat good rice, and all of whom have broad chests. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with you.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni ready at dice, adopting unfair means said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have four hundred Nidis (jewels of great value) encased in sheets of copper (Taamra in Sanskrit) and iron. Each one of them is equal to five draunikas of the costliest and purest leaf gold of the Jatarupa kind. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with you.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni ready at dice, adopting foul means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won it!’”