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154
 
THE MAHABHARATA
 
Dhritarashtra
 
:-
"By all means, let there be the end
of our family; I am not able to prevent
(this) ; once more, let our ( boys) play dice
with the Pandavas."
 
ततो व्यध्वगतं पार्थ प्रातिकामी युधिष्ठिरम् ।
उवाच वचनाद्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः ।
एहि पाण्डव दीव्येति पिता त्वाह नराधिपः ॥
 
6
 
Then, Pratikami, on the word of the
wise king Dhritarashtra, told Yudhisthira
who had gone a long way on the road :
"Come Yudhisthira, play the dice, ' SO
said your father, the king."
 
युधिष्ठिरः-
'धातुर्नियोगाद् भूतानि प्राप्नुवन्ति शुभाशुभम् ।
अक्षद्यूते समाहानं नियोगात्स्थविरस्य च ।
जानन्नपि क्षयकरं नातिक्रमितुमुत्सहे ॥ '
 
Yudhisthira-
(6
 
Beings obtain good and bad on the
dictate of Fate ; I am not able to disobey
this call for gambling because of the com-
mand of the old man, though I know it
to be ruinous."