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Yudhishtra Agrees to Play Dice The Second Time : Episode 87 (02-11-14)

The second boon Draupadi seeks from Dritarashtra is to regain Indraprastha and all the weapons. The king asks Draupadi what she wishes as third boon. Draupadi declines saying a kshatriya woman is not entitled for more than two boons. However, Dritarashtra reinstates all the wealth that Yudhishtra has lost in the dice game. He then asks Yudhishtra not to think of retribution, as it would bring about the downfall of the entire clan, but rule Indraprastha just as he did before.

Draupadi is weeping alone in her chamber and Kunti consoles her. She is anguished by the cowardly act of her sons that totally broke her pride of having brave sons. She tells Draupadi she should walk with her head held high. It is her sons who should feel the shame. She further tells Draupadi to wipe her tears and tie her hair, as leaving the hair unbraided was practiced only by widows and by those in whose homes death had occurred.

At this time Gandhari comes to meet them. Before she could enter, she hears Draupadi say that the Hastinapur is a court filled with soul-less and dead people, with the exception of Gandhari whose soul was stirred by a woman whose honor was being trampled. In a court filled with men, nobody had the courage to rise in her defence. It was then she realized that it is a men's world who cared only for their name, reputation, gratitude, and a woman's honor meant nothing for them. Being unable to protect their wife's honor, they were as good as dead. She then said she would not tie her hair unless she smeared her hair with blood. Her open hair would constantly remind them of the travails she has undergone. She clamored that they should root for war once they reached Indraprastha. Bhima assures Draupadi this would be done. Yudhishtra attempts to say something about Dritarashtra's request, but Draupadi stops him. Gandhari, who hears all the conversation, moves away without meeting them.

Duryodhana is happy at having humiliated the Pandavas, but Shakuni tells him that there is nothing to rejoice because all his hard-earned wealth and the enslavement of the Pandavas has been reversed by King Dritarashtra. Shakuni then says he can once again do something to get back everything if Yudhishtra is invited for another game of dice. He assures Duryodhana that if he would talk to his father tactfully and convince him to agree to this proposal, he would regain the lost Indraprastha for them.

Gandhari tells Dritarashtra about what Draupadi had said to her husbands. She has realized, she says, that forgiveness of the wrongs done to Draupadi is not possible and peaceful coexistence may not happen. At this time, Shakuni and Duryodhana approach them with the plan of inviting the Pandavas once again for a game of dice. They assure that they would not repeat the mistakes they made last time and nothing ever would be staked. Dritarashtra willingly agrees to their proposal. The King sends Pratikami, the messenger, to ask the Pandavas to meet the king in the court.

At the court, Dritarashtra asks Yudhishtra to play another friendly game of dice. That would help to clear the bitterness and hostility left by the previous match, since the new game will not call for staking any wealth and intends to establish good will alone, Dritarashtra assures. Yudhishtra is unable to refuse his uncle's request and he agrees to play once again.

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