The game of disaster

We left Vidura on his way to invite Yudhishthira, against his will, for a game of dice. He soon reached Indraprastha, the abode of the Pandavas, and greeted the Pandavas.

Yudhishthira foresees danger

The senior Pandava enquired about the welfare of the Kauravas. It was then that he noticed the pale face of Vidura. He asked whether the sons of Dhritarashtra were not keeping well. In reply Vidura conveyed the message from Dhritarashtra. The Kauravas have built a new assembly hall. They have sent an invitation to Yudhishthira to participate with his wife and brothers in a friendly game of dice there.

Yudhishthira expressed his misgivings to Vidura about the whole idea. Was not such a game, even if meant to be friendly, certain to invite trouble? Vidura was in full agreement with the Pandava on that point. He was only carrying out his orders. Yudhishthira could accept or reject the invitation as he thought right.

Yudhishthira wanted to know who all were going to play, besides the Kaurava brothers. Vidura listed all those who were present mentioning the name of Sakuni with special emphasis. Yudhishthira’s apprehension grew even further hearing the name of Sakuni. The Gandhara prince was famous for his skill in the game of dice and was known to play all the dirty tricks to win stakes.

Yet, even with the full knowledge of the dangers ahead, Yudhishthira announced that he accepted the invitation. He, on principle, would never refuse an invitation for a game of dice. It was not worthy of a king to refuse such a challenge. He accompanied Vidura to Hatinapura along with his wife and brothers.

Yudhishthira meets Sakuni

The Pandavas met their cousins at Hastinapura and exchanged greetings with them. Duryodhana was delighted that Yudhishthira had accepted his invitation. They all went to the place where Dhritarashtra lived with Gandhari and paid their respects to the elderly couple. The Pandavas later retired to the quarter earmarked for their stay that night.

They went to the newly built assembly hall next morning and found Sakuni there. Sakuni told Yudhishthira that his seat was ready at the game of dice. Yudhishthira tried to excuse himself by arguing that gambling often involved cheating and it hardly ever had a happy ending.

Sakuni defended his stand saying that a skillful player could win by fare means. Why was Yudhishthira afraid to place his stakes at the game? The Pandava, then, repeated his oath never to refuse an invitation for dice on principle, even though he anticipated trouble.

The game

With those words Yudhishthira sat at the game. Duryodhana announced that he supplied the stakes and Sakuni played for him. Yudhishthira objected to that arrangement. He had hoped that he would face Duryodhana in a straight contest. Against him he had hopes of winning. But, Sakuni was a different proposition. But, his objection was overruled by the Kaurava.

The stakes

Then, the fateful game started. The Pandava staked many of the precious jewels in his treasury. Duryodhana matched them with his stock of treasures and the dice was cast. Sakuni announced that he won the stakes. Yudhshthira knew that there was cheating and said so. But, Sakuni was too clever to give away his sleight of hands. Yudhshthira could not sustain his claim of unfair play.

The dice was thrown again and again, both the sides staking their valuables one by one. Each time Sakuni claimed victory and Yudhishthira complained of foul play. But, he could not prove anything. Each time Sakuni would prompt his opponent to play on. What the Pandava lost so far was nothing compared to what he owned. Why was he afraid to play on?

One by one and in big lots, too, the Pandava emperor staked all in his treasury and lost all. Sakuni would give no breathing time, but, prod him on for more stakes. Was he not the emperor in command over a large army? He could stake them and win back all that he lost so far. Yudhishthira would murmur that it was fate that was playing and that winning and losing was all decided by it. He continued with the game placing his entire army as stake and lost all. With Sakuni’s continued prompting he wagered his servants and lost them, too. By then his wits had become numb and he played on as though the dice cast a spell over him.

Sakuni taunted Yudhishthira for wearing expensive clothes and precious jewelry. They were worthy enough as stake for a round. Why was he holding on to them? So, the Pandava wagered with the clothes he and his brothers wore and lost all that. He was mesmerized to such an extent that in the next moment he wagered the ornaments and clothes worn by Draupadi and lost them, too.

Yudhishthira was totally in despair. It was not long ago that he was an emperor soaking in glory with all the victories and shining with all the wealth he gathered. Now he was reduced next to nothing. He was about to get up blaming his fate for the loss of all that he owned. But, Sakuni would not leave him even then.

The human stakes

The cunning Sakuni had cleverly chosen words to persuade Yudhishthira to play even further. He pointed out his brothers to Yudhishthira and asked him whether all his wealth was dearer to him than they were. Why was he not wagering them when he was left with such valiant princes as brothers? Yudhishthira was too stunned to say yes or no, perhaps even to think what was right and wrong. He offered Nakula as stake and lost him. Then, he staked Sahadeva and lost him, too.

Sakuni would not leave him alone even then. He made fun of Yudhishthira for not offering his real brothers, Bhima and Arjuna, as stakes for fear of losing them. He had no hesitation to wager his step brothers. The Pandava was pricked by those words and offered Arjuna as stake. In the next cast of Sakuni’s dice Yudhishthira lost Arjuna. He was compelled to offer Bhima next and lost him, too.

Finally, the Pandava offered himself as stake and played. He also ended up in the kitty of Sakuni, in essence as a slave to Duryodhana.

The most precious stake

Sakuni asked Yudhishthira, if that was all he possessed. It was a loaded question. He pointed out that the most precious possession, the princess Draupadi, still remained with him. So, Yudhishthira offered Draupadi as stake and lost her.

All the elder Kauravas, including Bhishma, Drona and Kripa, were watching in disbelief. With the final round of human stakes they all hung their head and became numb with shame. Many of the assembled kings spoke out the words “shame, shame”. Many turned their head away to hide their tears.

This was the moment Duryodhana was waiting to happen. He wasted no time to ask Vidura to bring Draupadi to the assembly as she was now at his command. It was her duty, as his servant, to sweep the floor of the hall!

Vidura did not hesitate to rebuke Duryodhana for his evil thoughts and words. Was he mad to think of such a course of action? He was, thereby, inviting the total ruin of not only himself, but also of his brothers and supporters. Vidura also pointed out that Yudhishthira had no right to stake his wife after he, himself, was lost to the opponent.

But, Duryodhana was too intoxicated with his total victory over his rivals to care for Vidura’s warning words. He accused Vidura for wrongly being on the side of the Pandavas. He, then, sent one of his assistants with the order to fetch Draupadi to the assembly hall.

We shall learn about the subsequent developments in the next episode.