Chapter 60

Yudhishthira said,–“Thou hast won this stake of me by unfair means. Butbe not so proud, O Sakuni. Let us play staking thousands upon thousands.I have many beautiful jars each full of a thousand Nishkas in mytreasury, inexhaustible gold, and much silver and other minerals. This, Oking, is the wealth with which I will stake with thee!'”

Vaisampayana continued,–“Thus addressed, Sakuni said unto the chief ofthe perpetuators of the Kuru race, the eldest of the sons of Pandu, kingYudhishthira, of glory incapable of sustaining any diminution. ‘Lo, Ihave won!'”

Yudhishthira said,–‘This my sacred and victorious and royal car whichgladdeneth the heart and hath carried us hither, which is equal unto athousand cars, which is of symmetrical proportions and covered withtiger-skin, and furnished with excellent wheels and flag-staffs which ishandsome, and decked with strings of little bells, whose clatter is evenlike the roar of the clouds or of the ocean, and which is drawn by eightnoble steeds known all over the kingdom and which are white as themoon-beam and from whose hoofs no terrestrial creature can escape–this,O king, is my wealth with which I will stake with thee!'”

Vaisampayana continued,–“Hearing these words, Sakuni ready with thedice, and adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said,–‘I have a hundred thousand serving-girls, all young,and decked with golden bracelets on their wrists and upper arms, and withnishkas round their necks and other ornaments, adorned with costlygarlands and attired in rich robes, daubed with the sandal paste, wearingjewels and gold, and well-skilled in the four and sixty elegant arts,especially versed in dancing and singing, and who wait upon and serve atmy command the celestials, the Snataka Brahmanas, and kings. With thiswealth, O king, I will stake with thee!'”

Vaisampayana continued,–‘Hearing these words, Sakuni ready with thedice, adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira. ‘Lo, I have won!’

Yudhishthira said,–“I have thousands of serving-men, skilled in waitingupon guests, always attired in silken robes, endued with wisdom andintelligence, their senses under control though young, and decked withear-rings, and who serve all guests night and day with plates and dishesin hand. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee!'”

Vaisampayana continued,–“Hearing these words, Sakuni, ready with thedice, adopting unfair means said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said,–‘I have, O son of Suvala, one thousand mustyelephants with golden girdles, decked with ornaments, with the mark ofthe lotus on their temples and necks and other parts, adorned with goldengarlands, with fine white tusks long and thick as plough-shafts, worthyof carrying kings on their backs, capable of bearing every kind of noiseon the field of battle, with huge bodies, capable of battering down thewalls of hostile towns, of the colour of new-formed clouds, and eachpossessing eight she-elephants. With this wealth, O king, I will stakewith thee.'”

Vaisampayana continued,–“Unto Yudhishthira who had said so, Sakuni, theson of Suvala, laughingly said, ‘Lo, I have won it!’

Yudhishthira said,–‘I have as many cars as elephants, all furnished withgolden poles and flag-staffs and well-trained horses and warriors thatfight wonderfully and each of whom receiveth a thousand coins as hismonthly pay whether he fighteth or not. With this wealth, O king, I willstake with thee!'”

Vaisampayana continued,–“When these words had been spoken, the wretchSakuni, pledged to enmity, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won it.’

Yudhishthira said.–‘The steeds of the Tittiri, Kalmasha, and Gandharvabreeds, decked with ornaments, which Chitraratha having been vanquishedin battle and subdued cheerfully gave unto Arjuna, the wielder of theGandiva. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee.”

Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing this, Sakuni, ready at dice, adoptingunfair means, said unto Yudhishthira: ‘Lo, I have won!’

Yudhishthira said,–‘I have ten thousand cars and vehicles unto which areyoked draught animals of the foremost breed. And I have also sixtythousand warriors picked from each order by thousands, who are all braveand endued with prowess like heroes, who drink milk and eat good rice,and all of whom have broad chests. With this wealth, O king, I will stakewith thee.’

Vaisampayana continued,–“Hearing this, Sakuni ready at dice, adoptingunfair means said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’

Yudhishthira said,–‘I have four hundred Nidis (jewels of great value)encased in sheets of copper and iron. Each one of them is equal to fivedraunikas of the costliest and purest leaf gold of the Jatarupa kind.With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee.'”

Vaisampayana continued,–“Hearing this, Sakuni ready at dice, adoptingfoul means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won it!'”