And commanded by the king, the Pandavas then retired to the chambers allotted to them and which were all furnished with jewels and gems.  And when they had retired into the chambers, the women of Dhritarashtra’s household with Dussala taking the lead visited them.  And the daughters-in-law of Dhritarashtra beholding the blazing and splendid beauty and prosperity of Yajnaseni, became cheerless and filled with jealousy.  And those tigers among men, having conversed with the ladies went through their daily physical exercises and then performed the religious rites of the day.  And having finished their daily devotions, they decked their persons with sandal paste of the most fragrant kind.  And desiring to secure good luck and prosperity they caused (by gifts) the Brahmanas to utter benedictions.  And then eating food that was of the best taste they retired to their chambers for the night.  And those bulls among the Kurus then were put to sleep with music by handsome females.  And obtaining from them what came in due succession, those subjugators of hostile towns passed with cheerful hearts that delightful night in pleasure and sport.  And waked by the bards with sweet music, they rose from their beds, and having passed the night thus in happiness, they rose at dawn and having gone through the usual rites, they entered into the assembly house and were saluted by those that were ready there for gambling.”

SECTION LVIII

Vaisampayana said,—­“The sons of Pritha with Yudhishthira at their head, having entered that assembly house, approached all the kings that were present there.  And worshipping all those that deserved to be worshipped, and saluting others as each deserved according to age, they seated themselves on seats that were clean and furnished with costly carpets.  After they had taken their seats, as also all the kings, Sakuni the son of Suvala addressed Yudhishthira and said, ’O king, the assembly is full.  All had been waiting for thee.  Let, therefore, the dice be cast and the rules of play be fixed, O Yudhishthira.’

’Yudhishthira replied, ’Deceitful gambling is sinful.  There is no Kshatriya prowess in it.  There is certainly no morality in it.  Why, then, O king, dost thou praise gambling so?  The wise applaud not the pride that gamesters feel in deceitful play.  O Sakuni, vanquish us, not like a wretch, by deceitful means.’

Sakuni said,—­’That high-souled player who knoweth the secrets of winning and losing, who is skilled in baffling the deceitful arts of his confrere, who is united in all the diverse operations of which gambling consisteth, truly knoweth the play, and he suffereth all in course of it.  O son of Pritha, it is the staking at dice, which may be lost or won that may injure us.  And it is for that reason that gambling is regarded as a fault.  Let us, therefore, O king, begin the play.  Fear not.  Let the stakes be fixed.  Delay not!’