The Mahabharata by R. K. Narayan Page A

giddy heights never notice that they are about to step off the precipice at their back,” continued Vidura. “O King, you have enough wealth, you do not have to earn by gambling…. The Pandavas themselves won to your side could prove to be your greatest wealth. You will not need anything more. Dismiss Sakuni at once, let him go back to his country. Don’t carry on this contest with the Pandavas….”
    Duryodhana was annoyed at this advice and said, “Vidura, you have always been a champion of our enemies and have detested the sons of Dhritarashtra, to whom you owe your food and shelter. I only follow my conscience, which tells me to do this or that, and I see nothing wrong in it. You follow your conscience and I will follow mine, even if it takes me down to perdition. If we do not suit your temperament, go away wherever you please.”
    Vidura turned to the old King. “All right, I will leave now,” he stated. “You are fickle minded and partial to this jackal in your family. You think that your sons are your well-wishers, and if you wish to follow them to your doom, I can’t prevent you. Any advice I give will be like a medicine rejected by a diseased man, a man who is dying….” But after saying this, he stayed on, not having the heart to abandonthe old King to his fate. Dhritarashtra remained silent.
    Yudhistira looked around and, pointing to his youngest brother, Nakula, who was standing behind him, said, “He is the brother I adore; he is my wealth….”
    â€œI win,” declared Sakuni, and beckoned Nakula to walk over to his side. There was hardly any pause before Yudhistira turned to point at Sahadeva next and said, “Sahadeva is the most learned and wise youth, whose knowledge of justice in all the worlds… ”
    â€œI win,” said Sakuni, and Sahadeva was summoned to cross over to the winner’s side. Sakuni eyed the remaining two brothers and added slyly, “Bhima and Arjuna, they are your mother’s sons, while those two are only your stepmother Madri’s sons, whom you could afford to stake away….” Yudhistira’s anger rose at this insinuation, and he cried, “How your evil mind works! You are trying to impute partiality to me, and bring a division amongst us….”
    Sakuni responded with a great deal of humility, and with a bow, “Forgive me, O King, you know when carried away by his success a gambler is likely to rant whatever comes to his mind, words which one would not dare to speak even in a dream. Forgive my levity….”
    Yudhistira pointed at Arjuna and declared, “Here is the one, perhaps the greatest hero, who should not be staked, but I will. Let us see… ”
    â€œI win,” Sakuni said again, and added, “Now, any one left?” Looking at Bhima, he caressed the dice between his fingers.
    Yudhistira rose to the occasion. “Yes, I will now stake Bhimasena, wielder of the thunderbolt, who has no equal in strength, a pulveriser of foes… ”
    â€œI win,” said Sakuni and asked, “Is there anything or any one you have not lost?”
    With the dice poised and ready, Yudhistira replied, “I alone am still not won. I will stake myself and do whatever is to be done by one lost to you.”
    Again came the words, “I win.” Sakuni said now, “Only the Princess of Panchala is left; will she not feel lonely with all her husbands gone suddenly in this manner?”
    Yudhistira, having lost his judgement completely, replied, “Yes, that sounds reasonable. Panchali is like the goddess Lakshmi, the spouse of Lord Vishnu at Vaikunta,” and then he launched into a lengthy description of her. “She is the goddess Lakshmi herself in stature, grace, and complexion; eyes like lotus petals; a woman who is an ideal wife to guide, serve, and sustain a man at all times. Oh! Suvala * , with her our luck will now turn and we will win