Intro
Dyuta Parva is the story of the gambling match with dice.
All the chapters in this parva are available -
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/dyuta
Yudhishthira loses the Pandavas Wealth
1-2.
Yudhishthira said,
‘Your win is suspicious.
But my wealth is auspicious.
Saubala, you did not fade me yet.
My treasury brims with coin to bet.
So my stake is set.’
3.
Shakuni gave the dice a crooked shake.
Shakuni said to Pandava Yudhishthira, the head of the Kaurava Dynasty.
‘Look, I win.’
4-6.
Yudhishthira said,
‘Here I rode a gold chariot.
A chariot with tingling bells and covered by a shiny net.
Pulled by an eight-horse team.
The chariot rides like a baller dream.
Known as the royal kingdom’s roadway wonder.
Its wheels roar like rolling thunder.
Count this as my bet.’
7.
Hearing Yudhishthira bet his rig with horse in stall,
Shakuni was determined to win it all.
With the confidence of one who knows he will not take a loss,
Shakuni gave the loaded dice another toss.
Shakuni said to Yudhishthira,
‘Look, I win.’
8-10.
Yudhishthira said,
‘There are a hundred thousand dancing women who wear gold anklets and necklaces.
The gals were each endowed by Sarasvati.
They wear pretty gowns and fancy dresses.
Each excellent head adorned with golden garland and lovely tresses.
The gals dance, party and sing.
They travel well and adore their king.
They study the fine art of entertaining.
They excel in partaking.
The consorts are my stake.’
11.
Sheltered by the cheater’s odds, a determined Shakuni and said again,
‘Look. I win.’
12.
Yudhishthira said,
‘I have thousands of man-servants.
Each man has a fabulous wardrobe and fine fashion sense.
Each man is wise with intelligence.
Young men with strong backs, teeth and eyesight.
Trained in exquisite food and beverage service these servers stand ready to serve long stacks day and night.
These cohorts are my stake.’
14.
Shakuni’s dice rolls were bogus.
Still Saubala rolled and grinned, ‘Look, I win.’
15-17.
Yudhishthira said,
‘I have a thousand tuskers -
With ears like lotus -
And cloud colored hide.
Sporting a golden garland and girdle.
Curving ivory tusks fit for a king to ride.
Without equal in battle.
The superior herd is my stake.’
18.
Saubala rolled the dice and smiled,
‘Look, I win.’
19-20.
Yudhishthira said,
‘I have chariots with gold standard-poles.
Each equipped with trained horses.
Plus one thousand warrior souls.
Top flight fighting men paid to fight by monthly purses.
The legion of merc heroes are my stake.’
21.
Shakuni rolled,
‘Look, I win.’
22-23.
Yudhishthira said,
‘The fabled horses Tittiri, Kalmasa that wear golden garlands in my royal stable.
Great steeds won with killer deeds from Chitaratha the gandharva by the wielder of the Gandiva.
The ponies are my stake.’
24.
Sheltering in unfair means, Shakuni ran the table.
‘Look, I win’, Shakuni said.
25-27.
Yudhishthira said,
‘I have wagons most capable.
Yoked to handsome milk fed oxen.
Covered wagons large enough to dwell in.
Decorated in many colors and capable of transporting a king’s ransom.
This is my stake.’
28.
Shakuni shot the angle.
‘Look, I win’, Shakuni said.
29-30.
Yudhishthira said,
‘I have four hundred Nidhis each worth five Draunikas fashioned on a master goldsmith’s stand.
O’ Bharata, also the flawless gems off my handle.
This is my stake.’
31.
‘Look’, Shakuni said, ‘I win.’
Notes
[2] Saubala is Shakuni.
Translation Collage
Gonzalez-Riemann. The Ancient Vedic dice game and the names of the four world ages in Hinduism. El Colegio de Mexico, 1989.