Decoding the Metaphor Mahabharata by Diwaker Ikshit Srivastava

Author:Diwaker Ikshit Srivastava
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing
Published: 2017-12-01T04:30:00+00:00

104. The game of dice

At the gaming hall Duryodhana declared that his uncle Shakuni would throw the dice on his behalf and Yudhisthira, if he desired, could get someone else to throw the dice on his behalf, which Yudhisthira declined. Before the game began, Yudhisthira, who had been feeling a little uncomfortable at the prospect of gambling, feebly told Shakuni that gambling was wrong. Shakuni laughed, “I can’t believe the mighty king is afraid of the challenge.”

That settled the issue. Now Shakuni was not only very skilled, he was crafty and a cheat too. He used loaded dice and hence every time he threw the dice, Duryodhana won. To begin with only some jewellery and some property were wagered. As the Pandavas kept losing one throw after another, Dhritarashtra, who could not hide his joy, would shriek, “That is won, this is won and this is won, too,” and so on.

Shakuni, meanwhile, kept challenging his opponent and prodding him on. Yudhisthira then placed all his slaves and thereafter his entire kingdom at stake and when he lost that, too, he said, “I have nothing left now”.

“You have your brothers; you can place them at stake. Who knows, they may be able to win back all that you have lost.”

Vidura spoke up against the immorality involved in the stakes but Duryodhana curtly asked him to keep his counsel to himself and Yudhisthira seemed to be bewitched. And so Yudhisthira placed, one by one, his brothers at stake. When he had lost them all, Shakuni said, “It’s time now for the king himself to take charge and rescue his brothers,” and so Yudhisthira staked himself. When he lost himself, he mourned, “Now I have nothing left.”

“But you do,” said Shakuni, “Panchali. Lakshmi will certainly bring all the wealth back.”

So Yudhisthira placed at stake their wife Draupadi. Shakuni would not relent now and ensured that Yudhisthira lost Draupadi too.

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