Arjuna through his mastery of martial art won Draupadi in her swayamvara.

Since then he is respected by all the archers of the world.

Arjuna had such an aura around him, he was like Sun, nobody could even look at him straight.

In Yudhishthira's Rajasuya, he defeated many kings who came to fight alone and in groups.

Arjuna was behind the success of Rajasuya.

This Rajasuya became famous for its grandeur.

A lot of charity was done during the yajna.

Scholars were given dakshina in abundance.

Whatever gifts came during this yajna, very valuable gifts that came from all over the world, they were being handed over to Duryodhana for safekeeping.

Duryodhana started getting jealous.

So much for Pandavas!

They are getting so much!

They have become so rich!

The sculptor of Danavas, Maya presented the Pandavas with a sabha griha, a grand court.

This sabha looked like a vimana.

It was made in such a way that dry places would look wet and wherever water was there, it would appear as if it is dry.

Duryodhana slipped.

He didn’t realize there was water.

Bhima made fun of him, in the presence of Krishnaa.

This made Duryodhana look like a dumb fool, who has never seen anything like this before.

Duryodhana went into depression.

He became pale and frail.

Dhritarashtra was informed about Duryodhana's state.

Dhritarashtra was very fond of Duryodhana.

He asked Duryodhana to gamble with the Pandavas.

Krishna knew what was going to happen was not good.

But he kept silent.

Why?

Because he knew that this gambling is going to end in a big dispute and fight, and in the ensuing war, many many evil rulers can be eliminated and the load on earth reduced.

Nobody paid heed to the advices of Bhishmacharya, Dronacharya, Kripacharya, or Vidura.

As he kept on hearing the news about the defeat of his own sons in the war,
Dhritarashtra told Sanjaya:

I am not the one who started this war.

I am not to be blamed for this war.

I didn’t even give permission for this war.

My clan has been destroyed.

Do you think I am happy?

For me, my sons and Pandu's sons were the same, I never saw any difference between them.

But my sons were overpowered by wrath, by anger.

They started accusing me.

They started finding fault with me that I was not supporting them.

They never used to listen to me.

I am a blind man.

I am helpless.

OK, I agree that I had some bias in favour of my sons.

A little bit.

But after all, they are my own sons.

It is natural.

I tolerated a lot of things.

That foolish son of mine, that dumb son of mine, Duryodhana, whenever he used to get carried away and become depressed, I also used to become depressed.

Duryodhana developed jealousy towards Pandavas when he saw all that wealth coming to them during Rajasuya.

Moreover the insult in that new sabha griha, that was the ultimate provocation.

Everyone knew that he was not strong enough to defeat Pandavas in war.

He never had interest also in warfare.

He never had the capability either.

But then, there was Shakuni, with him he entered into the conspiracy.

To amass everything that Pandavas had through cheating.

When Arjuna accomplished that task during swayamvara which nobody else would have and boldly faced all the kings who had assembled there and brought Draupadi home, that time itself I had smelled defeat for my sons.

When I saw Krishna and Balarama supporting Arjuna when he abducted their own sister Subhadra, I became all the more sure that my sons are going to lose.

I became all the more certain about our defeat when while Khandava was being set on fire, Indra started rains to extinguish the fire and Arjuna stopped Indra's rains with his arrows.

When I realized that Pandavas and their mother had escaped from the laksha griha and Vidura was also siding with them, I became certain about our defeat.

When I heard that after winning Panchali in the swayamvara, Pandavas and Panchalas have become bandhus, chances of our defeat became all the more stronger.

When I heard that the most valorous Jarasandha was killed with bare hands by Bhimasena, that too at his own capital, chances of our defeat became all the more stronger.

During Rajasuya itself when I saw big big kings under their control, I knew what was going to happen.

When I saw that Draupadi was dragged by her hair and brought to the raja sabha and she stood there helpless like an orphan, I became all the more sure what was going to happen.

When I saw what happened when dumb pest Dusshasana started pulling at Draupadi's clothes, I knew what was going to happen.

When I saw that Yudhishthira's kingdom, wealth, and everything was snatched through cheating and even then when he was forced into vanavasa his brothers didn't speak a word.

They all followed him, then I knew what was going to happen.

Seeing their unity I was sure about our defeat.

Even in the forest, when I heard that so many dharmtmas had assembled around them, I knew who was going to win this war.

When I heard that Devadhi Deva Mahadeva has given Pashupatastra to Arjuna, I became all the more sure about our defeat.

Dhritarashtra is telling all this to Sanjaya.