Who else, save him that is a desperate gambler, would play, giving
up kingdom and everything including even myself, in order to lead a life
in the woods? If he had gambled morning and evening for many years
together, staking _nishkas_ by thousand and other kinds of substantial
wealth, still his silver, and gold, and robes, and vehicles, and teams,
and goats, and sheep, and multitudes of steeds and mares and mules would
not have sustained any diminution. But now deprived of prosperity by the
rivalry of dice, he sits dumb like a fool, reflecting on his own
misdeeds. Alas, he who, while sojourning, was followed by ten thousand
elephants adorned with golden garlands now supports himself by casting
dice. That Yudhishthira who at Indraprastha was adored by kings of
incomparable prowess by hundreds of thousands, that mighty monarch in
whose kitchen a hundred thousand maid-servants, plate in hand, used
every day to feed numerous guests day and night, that best of liberal
men, who gave (every day) a thousand _nishkas_, alas, even he
overwhelmed with woe in consequence of gambling which is the root of all
evil, now supporteth himself by casting dice. Bards and encomiasts by
thousands decked with ear-rings set with brilliant gems, and gifted with
melodious voice, used to pay him homage morning and evening. Alas, that
Yudhishthira, who was daily waited upon by a thousand sages of ascetic
merit, versed in the _Vedas_ and having every desire gratified, as his
courtiers,--that Yudhishthira who maintained eighty-eight thousands of
domestic _Snatakas_ with thirty maid-servants assigned unto each, as
also ten thousand _yatis_ not accepting anything in gift and with vital
seed drawn up,--alas, even that mighty king now liveth in such guise.
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