CONSTRUCTION OF SABHA FOR THE DICE GAME

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 55 - CONSTRUCTION OF SABHA FOR THE DICE GAME

“Shakuni said, ‘O you foremost of victorious persons, I will snatch (for you) this prosperity of Yudhishthira, the son of Paandu, at the sight of which you grieve so. Therefore, O king, let Yudhishthira the son of Kunti be summoned. By throwing dice a skilful man, himself uninjured, may vanquish one that has no skill. Know, O Bharata, that betting is my bow, the dice are my arrows, the marks on them my bow-string, and the dice-board my chariot.’

“Duryodhana said, ‘O king (Dhritarashtra), this Shakuni skilled at dice, is ready to snatch the prosperity of the son of Paandu (Yudhishthira) by means of dice. It is your duty to give him permission.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘I am obedient to the counsels of my brother, the Mahaatmana Vidura. Consulting with him, I shall tell what should be done in this matter.’

“Duryodhana said, ‘Vidura is always engaged in doing good to the Paandavaas. O Kaurava (Dhritarashtra), his feelings towards us are otherwise. He will, therefore, without doubt, withdraw your heart from the proposed act. O son of Kuru’s race (Dhritarashtra), no man should set himself to any task depending upon the counsels of another, for the minds of two persons never agree in any particular act. The fool that lives avoiding all causes of fear wastes himself like an insect in the rainy season. Neither sickness nor Yama wait till one is in prosperity. So long, therefore, as there is life and health, one should (without waiting for prosperity) accomplish his purpose.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O son (Duryodhana), enmity with those that are strong, is what never recommends itself to me. Hostility brings about a change of feelings, and that itself is a weapon though not made of steel. O Prince (Duryodhana), you regard as a great blessing what will bring in its train the terrible consequences of war. What is really filled with is mischief. If once it begins, it will create sharp swords and pointed arrows.’

“Duryodhana replied, ‘Men of the most ancient times invented the use of dice. There is no destruction in it, nor is there any striking with weapons. Let the words of Shakuni, therefore, be acceptable to you, and let your command be issued for the speedy construction of the sabha. The door of heaven (Swarga Dwaaram in Sanskrit), leading us to such happiness, will be opened to us by gambling. Indeed, they that go to gambling (with such aid) deserve such good fortune. The Paandavaas then will become your equals (instead of, as now, superiors); therefore, you gamble with the Paandavaas.’

“Dhritarashtra said ‘The words uttered by you do not recommend themselves to me. Do what may be agreeable to you, O ruler of men (Duryodhana). But you shall have to repent for acting according to these words; for, words that are filled with such immorality (Adharma in Sanskrit) can never bring prosperity in the future. This was foreseen by the learned Vidura ever walking the path of truth and wisdom. The great calamity, destructive of the lives of the Kshatriyas, comes as destined by fate.’

“Vaishampaayana continued ‘Having said this, the weak-minded Dhritarashtra regarded fate (Deivam in Sanskrit) as supreme (Paramam in Sanskrit) and unavoidable (Dustaram in Sanskrit). The king deprived of reason by Fate, and obedient to the counsels of his son, commanded his men in loud voice, saying ‘Carefully construct, without loss of time, a sabha of the most beautiful description, to be called the crystal-arched sabha with a thousand columns, decked with gold and lapis lazuli (Vaidooryam in Sanskrit), furnished with a hundred gates, and full two miles in length and in breadth the same.’

“Hearing those words of his, thousands of artificers (Shilpina in Sanskrit) filled with intelligence and skill soon erected the sabha with the greatest readiness and having erected it brought there every kind of article. Soon after, they cheerfully represented to the king (Dhritarashtra) that the sabha had been finished, and that it as delightful, beautiful and furnished with every kind of gems and covered with many-coloured carpets inlaid with gold. Then king Dhritarashtra, possessed of learning, summoning Vidura the chief of his ministers, said ‘Travelling (to Khaandavaprastha), bring prince Yudhishthira here without loss of time. Let him come here with his brothers, and see this beautiful sabha of mine, furnished with countless jewels, gems, costly beds and carpets, and let a friendly match at dice commence here.’”