Shakuni's Dice Made From His Father's Bones : Episode 82 (28-09-14)

(continued from previous episode...)Balarama informs Rukmini and his wife Revati that Krishna has returned safely with gifts from King Satrajit, after acquitting himself of Satrajit's charge of stealing Syamantaka gem. Rukmini rushes out to meet Krishna, but is stunned to see him with Satyabhama, with both appearing garlanded.

Krishna wedded to Satyabhama

She angrily asks Balarama if the woman with Krishna is the gift from Satrajit that he referred just now. Krishna introduces Satyabhma as Satrajit's daughter who used to worship him everyday and has taken refuge in him. He then asks Bhama to seek his brother's blessings. Rukmini is incensed with Krishna's behavior. Krishna had just married Jambavati because she is his devotee and now he has married Bhama citing the same reason once again. If she did not try to put an end to this, the number of Krishna's wives may grow from three to way beyond thirty. Krishna smiles and says that in this birth he is destined to marry 16, 108 wives. Rukmini swoons but Bhama is calm. She explains to Rukmini that, like them, countless women have worshipped Krishna sincerely and taken refuge in him and it is Krishna's duty to accept them. Krishna confirms this saying he is bound to offer himself to anyone who take refuge in him and performed every action in His name, regardless of whether it is good or bad.

Kunti is happily watching Yudhishtra play the game of dice with his brothers. A messenger announces the arrival of Vidura and ushers him in. Vidura tells them that he has come there on a bitter errand. As an emissary from the king he tells them of the new 1000-pillared amphitheatre that the Kauravas have built, and their invitation to Pandavas to be their special guests and participate in the gambling game of dice. As their uncle and a well wisher, Vidura then advises the Pandavas not to come to Hastinapur, as danger is awaiting them there. Yudhishtra says he cannot refuse or ignore his uncle's invitation; besides, according to the kshatriya dharma, he is bound to accept the invitation of another kshatriya of equal stature. He promises Vidura that he would not initiate the game of dice and invite anybody for the game; however, he would not be able to refuse to play when another kshatriya invites him.

Krishna is reclining merrily on his bed, being served by Rukmini and Bhama. Balarama announces that King Salwa has begun an aerial attack on Mathura, being angered by Krishna's slaying of his friend Sishupala at the Rajasuya Yagna of the Pandavas at Indraprastha.

Vidura conveys the news of the acceptance of Dhritarashtra's invitation to play the game of dice. Duryodhana, Shakuni and Dritarashtra are overjoyed to hear this. Dritarashtra commands Vidura to make all arrangements to make the stay of the Pandavas an enjoyable one.

In his private chamber, Shakuni opens a special box containing a pair of dice. He remembers his father King Subala's directive to him as the sole survivor of the Gandhara kingdom to wreak vengeance on the Kauravas. His father had told him how Bhishma once angrily barged into Subala's court and demanded to know why he had hidden the fact that Gandhari had already been married. Subala explains that Gandhari was said to have 'kalathra dosha' because of which it was feared that her husband would not live long. So they got her married to a goat and later sacrificed this goat. For his crime of hiding these facts, Bhishma imprisons him and his entire clan of hundred people and gave them just hundred grains of rice everyday. As this was insufficient for all, the Gandhara clan decided to put all the grains together and feed only Shakuni so that he could wreak vengeance on the Kauravas for having driven them to such despair. Subala then shows him a bone of his ancestors and hits him hard with it. As Shakuni writhes with pain, his father tells him that every step that he takes with his injured leg should help him to keep the memory of Bhishma's wrongdoings alive in his mind. Subala further tells him to make a pair of dice with his own bones. The dice would always obey Shakuni's commands and he should use it to bring about the destruction of the Kauravas. Subala dies, and Shakuni swears he would bring about the destruction of the Kauravas. Shakuni recalls all this and prays that this game, the ultimate game he is about to play, should destroy the Kuru dynasty.

Duryodhana visits his father and tells him to promise not to interfere in anything that he might do the next day when he would play the game of dice with the Pandavas. Dritarashtra is hesitant, but Duryodhana gets him to promise non-interference using his usual threats of suicide.