Yudhishtra Plays Dice Despite Vidura's Warning : Episode 83 (05-10-2014)

(continued from previous episode)Virtuous Vikarna, Dritarashtra's son from a Vaisya woman, has been listening to the conversation between his father and Duryodhana. Dritarashtra throws away in helpless anguish the glass of milk that Duryodhana has brought for him. Vikarna tells Dritarashtra that he has heard Duryodhana's conversations with him and begs him not to permit the playing of the game of dice, as he fears that his brother Duryodhana could use it in vile ways. He requests Dritarashtra to send away the Pandavas soon, else the entire Kuru dynasty may have to suffer the ill consequences.

Dritarshtra convenes the game of dice. Yudhishtra seeks the blessings from all the assembled elders. Shakuni asks an unwilling Duryodhana to seek Yudhishtra's blessings, explaining that Yudhishtra's words would never fail, as he is the embodiment of truth. Yudhishtra wishes Duryodhana victory. Shakuni asks Yudhishtra's consent to begin the game. Yudhishtra expresses surprise at Shakuni's eagerness to play the game, and says the game neither expresses the true valor of a kshatriya nor brings honor to anybody who plays dishonestly. Duryodhana mocks that Yudhishtra has already become scared about losing and the game has already ended even before starting.

Yudhishtra gives his consent, clarifying that he would never initiate the game, but would never refuse participation when invited. Bhishma announces the rules of decorum to be maintained in the assembly. First, a king can wager only what is under his dominion; second, a player can withdraw anytime before plaing a wager, and nobody can compel anybody to continue to play; and third, no woman except a dasi can enter the assembly.

Shakuni also puts in three rules for the conduct of the game. The contestants should wager objects of equal value. Second, once after placing the wager, they cannot withdraw. Third, when the dice produces the value announced by the player, the player would be declared victorious. Yudhishtra and Duryodhana agree to the rules.

Duryodhana announces that Shakuni would roll the dice on his behalf. Though Bhima and Arjuna express their reservations, Duryodhana insists that he would not play the game unless his uncle is allowed to throw the dice. Yudhishtra agrees, and the players take their positions.

The game begins and Duryodhana offers the necklace he is wearing as the wager. Vidura intervenes and says Duryodhana does not have the right to lay a wager as the necklace is his father Dritarashtra's property. Shakuni tells Dritarashtra that though King Dritarashtra was willing to offer him the throne, Duryodhana was unwilling to accept it as a mark of respect to his father. Now as a result of his selflessness, he has now to bow his head in shame. Dritarashtra announces that he gives his son Duryodhana all the rights to do what he pleases with his property. As Shakuni starts to pull out his dice, Arjuna objects that Shakuni, being Duryodhana's representative, should use the dice belonging to him and not use his personal dice. Shakuni makes a show of compliance, but Yudhishtra magnanimously allows Shakuni to use his own dice, saying he trusts him.

At first, Yudhishtra wins the first round and his dice produces the denomination of his choice. At this stage, Vidura asks the king to discontinue the game, but Yudhishtra wants to give Duryodhana an equal chance to win. From then on, his luck runs out and in the second round, he loses 10,000 cows. Bhishma asks the game to be stopped since both the sides have won once. Duryodhana snickers that Yudhishtra could not tolerate losing the cows. Yudhishtra is stung and he continues to play. This time, Yudhishtra places his entire treasury as a wager, and Duryodhana places the treasury of Hastinapur. Vidura objects to this, saying the money in the treasury involved money collected from ordinary citizens as tax. Dritarashtra overrules this objection, and allows his son to place the treasury as a wager. Shakuni wields the dice to get the desired number on the dice and Yudhishtra loses all the money in his treasury.

Duryodhana taunts Yudhishtra as being afraid of losing and this constraints Yudhishtra to play despite advice by the elders. One by one, Yudhishtra loses all the dasis and the jewelry belonging to them, the gold-gilded royal elephants, and the army with their weapons.

The game continues...