Pandavas Gambling
- Eventually, Shakuni sired yet another ploy and got Duryodhana to invite the Pandavas over to his court for a game of dice (gambling). Shakuni was a master at gambling and owned a pair of dice which magically did his bidding and produced numbers desired by him.
- Answer Podcast Transcription by– Keshavgopal Das & Ambuj Gupta Question: Why did Pandavas agree for second gambling match? Answer: Again the same point comes up about contextual morality and categorical morality. Sometimes when we look at characters in scripture we may think of them normative. Normative means they are going to behave in a particular way. They all exhibit a particular.
- Duryodhana was well pleased at this proposal, and he went before his blind father, the maharajah, and prevailed upon him to invite the Pandavas to Hastinapur for a friendly gambling match, despite the warnings of the royal counsellors. Said Dhritarashtra: 'If the gods are merciful, my sons will cause no dispute. Let it be as fate hath ordained.
- Bad Result of gambling There was a city named Hastnapur, where lived the Kauravas and Pandavas. They ruled together but the Kauravas were fraudy and the Pandavas were honest. The Kauravas were not satisfied with their half kingdom. They thought to snatch the whole kingdom from the Pandavas. One day Duryodhan called the Pandavas.
China
By using evil power of shakuni,duryodhna cheets pandavas to all of his properties and jewels etc.afterduryodhna asks draupadi as a bet. If pandavas win,duryodhna promise gave all looted things with draupadi, if they lose gone to vanavasa.
No matter the millennium, China has always harbored a culture of gambling. Currently, it can be seen in the exploding gambling culture in their Macau region, and you can also find some ways to gamble in Hong Kong, but thousands of years ago, they were doing their best to revolutionize gameplay too. Some even believe that gambling even began in China! It can be traced all the way back to the Xia Dynasty, which took place between 1900 and 1600 B.C. Because of the fickle nature of gambling and its ability to bring power and stability to its knees if not played responsibility, gambling activities were mostly banned in the country. Still, that wouldn’t stop the ancient Chinese. It became so difficult to keep under control that the government finally caved and legalized it. They were some of the first to see the benefits in its taxation, and they reaped fortunes from their citizens.
You might be surprised to learn that many of the casino games we know and love today originated in China. As the inventors of playing cards, variations of games such as blackjack, poker and keno are said to have come from the ingenuity of the Chinese. Many of these games were created in the Tang Dynasty around 900 A.D. and relied on special playing cards as being not just the tools to play the game, but also a paper currency that held a material value outside of the game too. If that wasn’t enough, the Chinese were to create the first tile games, which is the ancient ancestor of today’s dominoes game.
Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt
As some of the oldest civilizations known to current scientific studies, remnants of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt contain the oldest evidence of gambling yet to be found. Although we can make guesses as to how these certain artifacts were truly used, it is believed by a broad consensus that they were instruments for good old-fashioned wagering. For example, a number of four-sided Astragli, also known as knucklebones, have been unearthed. As the precursor to our modern dice, the found Astragli have been made from materials as varied as wood, metal, and stone.
These strange instruments weren’t necessarily used how we would use dice though. Initially, it is believed that they were used to communicate with Gods, or rather, that Gods were believed to have communicated through them. By asking questions and rolling them, the answer would reveal what the Gods were supposedly thinking. In 2012, an Astragli was found with 20-sides, the purpose for it yet to be discovered. Perhaps they believed that four answers from the all-seeing Gods were not enough.
But it wasn’t just for religious reasons that the tools were used. The Egyptians also utilized them for different games, including the board game Senet. As the first board game of its kind in known-existence, the rules of Senet are still argued about today. Luckily for historians, more can be said for the Game of Ur, a board game found in Iraq’s Royal Tombs of Ur in the 1920s that although comes from an ancient time, is still at least 900 years younger than Senet.
The Americas
Being the continent on which the fascinating Mayan and Inca thrived and fell, it’s surprising how little knowledge has been preserved of the ancient civilizations of the Americas. It was known for some time that they had their own version of dice games, but what these were exactly no one can surmise. It wasn’t until 2010 that an archaeologist discovered an ancient scoreboard that she believed to be for scoring dice. At 5,000 years old, it is the oldest and perhaps most significant evidence for early games in the Americas that has been found.
Another Ancient American game, Patolli, was a two-player board game that saw each player place six markers that represented an individual wager of a high valued item, which they would play one by one until a single player would come out victorious. Lower stakes games could include food, jewelry or personal valuables, but there is evidence of high-stakes games being played that saw contestants bet their homes, wives and even their freedom! It is a far cry from its descendant Ludo, but it must have made for an extremely entertaining watch.
Things have changed a lot over the years, with the current United States gambling laws still in a state of constant flux. If you want to have a look at what games you can legally wager on and where you can place bets, check out our guide to gambling in the USA.
India
In modern India, gambling tends to be looked down upon as being both morally wrong, with laws reflecting this attitude too. You can read our India gambling page to see what forms of betting are legal and popular. However, at one point gambling was a prevalent facet of India’s ancient civilization. Hindu texts dating from 2000 B.C. specifically mention gambling games, namely the Mahabharata, an epic myth that features a game of dice that acts as a major plot twist in the story. It is this game of dice which results in the story’s Pandavas brothers losing their kingdom and power. They are then exiled and their wives are humiliated in court by their rivals, the Kauravas, which provokes the God Krishna to intervene and save the wives. So influential was this game of dice that it even led to an epic battle.
It may seem as though that gambling was used here as a plot device to show it’s amorality, but there’s more to the story. As the epic unfolds, it is revealed that the Kauravas were convinced into playing dice with the Pandavas as an act of revenge, the schemer the Kauravas’ uncle who predicted that the game would ultimately lead to a battle which they would surely lose, which they did. Ultimately, gambling per se is not portrayed as an unacceptable activity, rather, its the use of it as a means of trickery that is.
As well as this, both of India’s most significant festivals, Holi and Diwali, tend to facilitate the most gambling activity in the year. The festivals are traditionally celebrated as the welcoming of new phases, both marking seasonal shifts that are believed to bring in revived fortunes. Diwali, in particular, is believed to be favored by Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, and so many Indians find that this day is the best to gamble. Although it’s easy to interpret this as exploiting a blessing for personal gain, there is historical evidence that suggests that in fact, gambling activities were also used to end disputes between two opposing factions.
Rome and Greece
Known for their love of hedonistic living and vice, both the Ancient Greeks and Romans were keen gamblers, to say the least. A game that transcended both civilizations was the game of Par Impar. The modern game of Odds and Evens is extremely similar – you take two players, with one hiding a number of objects in their closed fists. The other player then has to guess whether the number of items was odd or even, and if they guessed it correctly then presto! They’d win a small wager.
The Ancient Greeks were also known to be fans of dice games that wagered on luck. They even had their own versions of what we’d call casinos today – special places where people could meet and gamble. In saying that, those places didn’t have the same level of prestige as the modern casino has today, with most looking down on the people who would use them. Like going to a brothel in many countries today, being caught in one would be enough to give a high-standing member of society an ill reputation.
Even ancient Greek mythology wasn’t immune to these games – in some stories it is said that the Universe was split because the Gods played a game of dice. Hades was said to have the worst throw against Zeus and his brothers, and thus he was gifted with the Underworld. With luck being a center point to their beliefs of the Universe’s conception, it’s no wonder why they placed so much value on them.
Although gambling was strictly prohibited in ancient Rome, an annual Saturnalia Festival saw gambling allowed for one night. In saying that, all customs and laws were turned askew for this particular night – as it was a night when masters would serve slaves and partying would replace conservative civility. It’s allowance on this night just goes to show how debased they considered gambling to be.
Regardless, it didn’t stop them, as many Roman civilians tended to gamble in secret of the authorities. Because of its illegality, it allowed for cheating to become so ingrained in gambling culture as one could not be reported to if they were being dishonest. A notable representation of this phenomena was found in graffiti in the ruins of Pompeii, where a number of gamblers wrote phrases like, “I am skilled enough to win without cheating.”
Outside of the plebiscites, a number of Roman emperors are reported to have been keen gamblers. Both Augustus and Nero were, in fact, famous for it, despite Augustus admitting himself that he was never quite successful. But neither of them had nothing on Emperor Commodus, whose love for the sport became so out of hand that he not only gambled the state treasury away but turned his royal palace into a casino to try to recoup the losses! And they wonder why Rome fell…
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CHAPTER XV
The Great Gambling Match
Duryodhana's Plot--Shakuni the Gambler--Loaded Dice--Challenge to Yudhishthira--An Unequal Contest--Pandavas lose Kingdom and become Slaves--Draupadi Staked and Lost--How Duhsasana humbled her--Pandava Queen's Appeals--Treated as a Menial--Attempt to Disrobe her--Taunted by Karna--Bhima's Terrible Vows--Alarming Omens--Pandavas regain Liberty--Second Gambling Match--Pandavas go into Exile.
Now Shakuni, Prince of Gandhara, 1 and brother of Dhritarashtra's queen, was renowned for his skill as a gambler. He always enjoyed good fortune because that he played with loaded dice. Duryodhana plotted with him, desiring greatly to subjugate the Pandavas, and Shakuni said: 'Be advised by me. Yudhishthira loves the dice, although he knows not how to play. Ask him to throw dice with me, for there is no gambler who is my equal in the three worlds. I will put him to shame. I will win from him his kingdom, O bull among men.'
Duryodhana was well pleased at this proposal, and he went before his blind father, the maharajah, and prevailed upon him to invite the Pandavas to Hastinapur for a friendly gambling match, despite the warnings of the royal counsellors.
Said Dhritarashtra: 'If the gods are merciful, my sons will cause no dispute. Let it be as fate hath ordained. No evil can happen so long as I am near,
and Bhishma and Drona are near also. Therefore, let the Pandavas be invited hither as my son desireth.'
So Vidura, who feared trouble, was sent unto Indra-prastha to say: 'The maharajah is about to hold a great festival at Hastinapur, and he desires that Yudhishthira and his brethren, their mother Pritha and their joint wife Draupadi, should be present. A great gambling match will be played.'
When Yudhishthira heard these words, he sorrowed greatly, for well he knew that dice-throwing was ofttimes the cause of bitter strife. Besides, he was unwilling to play Prince Shakuni, that desperate and terrible gambler. . . . But he could not refuse the invitation of Dhritarashtra, or, like a true Kshatriya, disdain a challenge either to fight or to play with his peers.
So it came to pass that the Pandava brethren, with Pritha, their mother, and their joint wife Draupadi, journeyed to Hastinapur in all their splendour. Dhritarashtra welcomed them in the presence of Bhishma and Drona and Duryodhana and Karna; then they were received by Queen Gandhari, and the wives of the Kaurava princes; and all the daughters-in-law of the blind maharajah became sad because that they were jealous of the beauty of Draupadi and the splendour of her attire.
The Pandava lords and ladies went unto the dwelling which had been prepared for them, and there they were visited in turn by the lords and ladies of Hastinapur.
On the day that followed, Yudhishthira and his brethren went together to the gambling match, which was held in a gorgeous pavilion, roofed with arching crystal and decorated with gold and lapis lazuli: it had a hundred doors and a thousand great columns, and it was richly carpeted. All the princes and great chieftains and warriors of the kingdom were gathered there. And
[paragraph continues] Prince Shakuni of Gandhari was there also with his false dice.
When salutations had passed, and the great company were seated, Shakuni invited Yudhishthira to play.
Said Yudhishthira: 'I will play if mine opponent will promise to throw fairly, without trickery and deceit. Deceitful gambling is sinful, and unworthy a Kshatriya; there is no prowess in it. Wise men do not applaud a player who winneth by foul means.'
Shakuni said: 'A skilled gambler ever playeth with purpose to vanquish his opponent, as one warrior fighteth another less skilled than himself to accomplish his over-throw. Such is the practise in all contests; a man plays or fights to achieve victory. . . . But if thou art in dread of me, O Yudhishthira, and afraid that thou wilt lose, ’twere better if thou didst not play at all.'
Said Yudhishthira: 'Having been challenged, I cannot withdraw. I fear not to fight or to play with any man. . . . But first say who doth challenge and who is to lay stakes equally with me.'
Then Duryodhana spoke, saying: 'O rajah, I will supply jewels and gold and any stakes thou wilt of as great value as thou canst set down. It is for me that Shakuni, my uncle, is to throw the dice.'
Said Yudhishthira: 'This is indeed a strange challenge. One man is to throw the dice and another is to lay the stakes. Such is contrary to all practice. If, however, thou art determined to play in this fashion, let the game begin.'
Pandavas Gambling Places
Well did the Rajah of Indra-prastha know then that the match would not be played fairly. But he sat down, notwithstanding, to throw dice with Shakuni.
At the first throw Yudhishthira lost; indeed, he lost at every throw on that fatal day. He gambled away all
his money and all his jewels, his jewelled chariot with golden bells, and all his cattle; still he played on, and he lost his thousand war elephants, his slaves and beautiful slave girls, and the remainder of his goods; and next, he staked and lost the whole kingdom of the Pandavas, save the lands which he had gifted to the Brahmans. Nor did he cease to play then, despite the advice offered him by the chieftains who were there. One by one he staked and lost his brethren; and he staked himself and lost also.
Said Shakuni: 'You have done ill, Yudhishthira, in staking thine own self; for now thou hast become a slave; but if thou wilt stake Draupadi now and win, all that thou hast lost will be restored unto thee.'
Yudhishthira said: 'So be it. I will stake Draupadi.'
At these words the whole company was stricken with horror. Vidura swooned, and the faces of Bhishma and Drona grew pallid; many groaned; but Duryodhana and his brethren rejoiced openly before all men.
Shakuni threw the dice, and Yudhishthira lost this the last throw. In this manner was Draupadi won by Duryodhana.
Then all the onlookers gazed one upon another in silence and wide-eyed. Karna and Duhsasana 1 and other young princes laughed aloud.
Duryodhana rose proudly and spake unto Vidura, saying: 'Now hasten unto Draupadi and bid her to come hither to sweep the chambers with the other bonds-women.'
Vidura was made angry, and answered him: 'Thy words are wicked, O Duryodhana. Thou canst not command a lady of royal birth to become a household slave. Besides, she is not thy slave, because Yudhishthira
did stake his own freedom before he staked Draupadi. Thou couldst not win aught from a slave who had no power to stake the princess.'
But Duryodhana cursed Vidura, and bade one of his servants to bring Draupadi before him.
Said Vidura: 'Duryodhana is this day deprived of his reason. Dishonesty is one of the doors to hell. By practising dishonesty Duryodhana will accomplish yet the ruin of the Kauravas.'
The beautiful Draupadi was sitting at peace within the fair dwelling set apart for the Pandavas on the banks of the Ganges; its walls and towers were mirrored on the broad clear waters. Then suddenly, as a jackal enters stealthily the den of a lion, the menial sent by Duryodhana entered the palace and stood before high-horn Draupadi.
Said this man: 'O queen, the mighty son of Pandu hath played and lost; he hath lost all, even his reason, and he hath staked thee, and thou hast been won by Duryodhana. And now Duryodhana bids me to say that thou art become his slave, and must obey him like to other female slaves. So come thou with me, for thou must henceforth engage in menial work.'
Draupadi was astounded when he spake these words, and in her anguish she cried: 'Have I heard thee aright? Hath my husband, the king, staked and lost me in his madness? Did he stake and loose aught beside?'
Said the man: 'Yudhishthira hath lost all his riches and his kingdom; he staked his brethren and lost them one by one; he staked himself and lost; and then he staked thee, O queen, and lost also. Therefore, come thou with me.'
Draupadi rose in her pride and spoke angrily, saying: 'If my lord did stake himself and become a slave, he
could not wager me, for a slave owns neither his own life nor the life of another. Speak, therefore, unto my husband these words, and unto Duryodhana say: 'Draupadi hath not been won'.'
The man returned to the assembly and spake unto Yudhishthira the words which Draupadi had said, but he bowed his head and was silent.
Duryodhana was made angry by the defiant answer of the proud queen, and he said unto his brother Duhsasana: 'The sons of Pandu are our slaves, and thy heart is without fear for them. Go thou to the palace and bid the princess, my humble menial, to come hither quickly.'
Red-eyed and proud Duhsasana hastened to the palace. He entered the inner chambers and stood before Draupadi, who was clad in but a single robe, while her hair hung loosely.
Said the evil-hearted Kaurava: 'O princess of Panchala with fair lotus eyes, thou hast been staked and lost fairly at the game of hazard. Hasten, therefore, and stand before thy lord Duryodhana, for thou art now his bright-eyed slave.'
Draupadi heard and trembled. She covered her eyes with her hands before the hated Duhsasana; her cheeks turned pale and her heart sickened. Then suddenly she leapt up and sought to escape to an inner room. But the evil-hearted prince seized her by the hair, for he no longer feared the sons of Pandu, and the beautiful princess quivered and shook in her loose attire like to a sapling which is shaken by the storm wind. Crouching on her knees, she cried angrily, while tears streamed from her lotus eyes: 'Begone! O shameless prince. Can a modest woman appear before strangers in loose attire?'
Said stern and cruel Duhsasana: 'Even if thou wert
From the painting by Warwick Goble'>
Click to enlarge
THE ORDEAL OF QUEEN DRAUPADI
From the painting by Warwick Goble
naked now, thou must follow me. Hast thou not become a slave, fairly staked and fairly won? Henceforth thou wilt serve among the other menials.'
Trembling and faint, Draupadi was dragged through the streets by Duhsasana. When she stood before the elders and the chieftains in the pavilion she cried: 'Forgive me because that I have come hither in this unseemly plight. . . .'
Bhishma and Drona and the other elders who were there hung their heads in shame.
Unto Duhsasana Draupadi said angrily: 'Cease thy wickedness! Defile me no longer with unclean hands. A woman's hair is sacred.'
Sacred indeed were the locks of the Pandava queen, for they had been sprinkled with water sanctified by mantras at the imperial sacrifice.
Weeping, she cried: 'Hear and help me, O ye elders. You have wives and children of your own. Will you permit this wrong to be continued. Answer me now.'
Pandavas Gambling Movie
But no man spake a word.
Draupadi wept and said: 'Why this silence? . . . Will no man among ye protect a sinless woman? . . . Lost is the fame of the Kauravas, the ancient glory of Bharata, and the prowess of the Kshatriyas! . . . Why will not the sons of Pandu protect their outraged queen? . . . And hath Bhishma lost his virtue and Drona his power? . . . Will Yudhishthira no longer defend one who is wronged? . . . Why are ye all silent while this deed of shame is done before you?'
As she spake thus, Draupadi glanced round the sons of Pandu one by one, and their hearts thirsted for vengeance. Bhishma's face was dark, Drona clenched his teeth, and Vidura, white and angry, gazed upon Duhsasana with amaze while he tore off Draupadi's veil and addressed
her with foul words. When she looked towards the Kaurava brethren, Duhsasana said: 'Ha! on whom darest thou to look now, O slave?'
Shakuni and Karna laughed to hear Draupadi called a slave, and they cried out: 'Well spoken, well spoken!'
Duhsasana endeavoured to strip the princess naked before the assembly; but Draupadi, in her distress, prayed aloud to Krishna, invoking him as the creator of all and the soul of the universe, and entreated him to help her. Krishna heard her, and multiplied her garments so that Duhsasana was unable to accomplish his wicked purpose.
Karna spake to Draupadi and said: '’Tis not thy blame, O princess, that thou hast fallen so low. A woman's fate is controlled by her husband; Yudhishthira hath gambled thee away. Thou wert his, and must accept thy fate. Henceforward thou wilt be the slave of the Kaurava princes. Thou must obey them and please them with thy beauty. . . . ’Tis meet that thou shouldst now seek for thyself a husband who will love thee too well to stake thee at dice and suffer thee to be put to shame. . . . Be assured that no one will blame a humble menial, as thou now art, who looks with eyes of love upon great and noble warriors. Remember that Yudhishthira is no longer thy husband; he hath become a slave, and a slave can have no wife. . . . Ah! sweet Princess of Panchala, those whom thou didst choose at thy swayamvara have gambled and lost thee; their kingdom they have lost, and their power also.'
At these words Bhima's bosom heaved with anger and with shame. Red-eyed he scowled upon Karna; he seemed to be the image of flaming Wrath. Unto Yudhishthira he spake grimly, saying: 'If you hadst not staked our freedom and our queen, O king and elder
brother, this son of a charioteer would not have taunted us in this manner.'
Yudhishthira bowed his head in shame, nor answered a word.
Arjuna reproved Bhima for his bitter words; but Pritha's mighty son, the slayer of Asuras, said: 'If I am not permitted to punish the tormentor of Draupadi, bring me a fire that I may thrust my hands into it.'
A deep uproar rose from the assembly, and the elders applauded the wronged lady and censured Duhsasana. Bhima clenched his hands and, with quivering lips, cried out:
'Hear my terrible words, O ye Kshatriyas. . . . May I never reach Heaven if I do not yet seize Duhsasana in battle and, tearing open his breast, drink his very life blood! . . .'
Again he spoke and said: 'If Yudhishthira will permit me, I will slay the wretched sons of Dhritarashtra without weapons, even as a lion slays small animals.'
Then Bhishma and Vidura and Drona cried out: 'Forbear, O Bhima! Everything is possible in thee.'
Duryodhana gloried in his hour of triumph, and unto the elder of the Pandava brethren spake tauntingly and said: 'Yudhishthira, thou art spokesman for thy brethren, and they owe thee obedience. Speak and say, thou who dost ever speak truly, hast thou lost thy kingdom and thy brethren and thine own self? O Yudhishthira, hast thou lost even the beauteous Draupadi? And hath she, thy wedded wife, become our humble menial?'
Yudhishthira heard him with downcast eyes, but his lips moved not. . . . Then Karna laughed; but Bhishma, pious and old, wept in silence.
Then Duryodhana cast burning eyes upon Draupadi, and, baring his knee, invited her, as a slave, to sit upon it.
Bhima gnashed his teeth, for he was unable to restrain his pent-up anger. With eyes flashing like lightning, and in a voice like to thunder he cried out: a Hear my vow! May I never reach Heaven or meet my ancestors hereafter if, for these deeds of sin, I do not break the knee of Duryodhana in battle, and drink the blood of Duhsasana!'
The flames of wrath which leapt on the forehead of Bhima were like red sparks flying from tough branches on a crackling fire.
Dhritarashtra was sitting in his palace, nor knew aught of what was passing. The Brahmans, robed in white, were chanting peacefully their evening mantras, when a jackal howled in the sacrificial chamber. Asses brayed in response, and ravens answered their cries from all sides. Those who heard these dread omens exclaimed: 'Swashti! Swashti!' 1
Dhritarashtra shook with terror, and when Vidura had told him all that had taken place, he said: 'The luckless and sinful Duryodhana hath brought shame upon the head of Rajah Drupada's sweet daughter, and thus courted death and destruction. May the prayers of a sorrowful old man remove the wrath of Heaven which these dark omens have revealed.'
Then the blind maharajah was led to Draupadi, and before all the elders and the princes he spoke to her, kindly and gently, and said: 'Noble queen and virtuous daughter, wife of pious Yudhishthira, and purest of all women, thou art very dear unto my heart. Alas! my sons have wronged thee in foul manner this day. O forgive them now, and let the wrath of Heaven be averted. Whatsoever thou wilt ask of me will be thine.'
Said Draupadi: 'O mighty maharajah, thou art merciful; may happiness be thy dower. I ask of thee to set at
liberty now my lord and husband Yudhishthira. Having been a prince, it is not seemly that he should be called a slave.'
Dhritarashtra said: 'Thy wish is granted. Ask a second boon and blessing, O fair one. Thou dost deserve more than a single boon.'
Said Draupadi: 'Let Arjuna and Bhima and their younger brethren be set free also and allowed to depart now with their horses and their chariots and their weapons.'
Dhritarashtra said: 'So be it, O high-born princess.
Ask yet another boon and blessing and it will be granted thee.'
Said Draupadi: 'I seek no other boon, thou generous monarch: I am a Kshatriya by birth, and not like to a Brahman, who craveth for gifts without end. Thou hast freed my husbands from slavery: they will regain their fortunes by their own mighty deeds.'
Then the Pandava brethren departed from Hastinapur with Pritha and Draupadi, and returned unto the city of Indra-prastha.
The Kauravas were made angry, and Duryodhana remonstrated with his royal sire and said: 'Thou hast permitted the Pandava princes to depart in their anger; now they will make ready to wage war against us to regain their kingdom and their wealth; when they return they will slay us all. Permit us, therefore, to throw dice with them once again. We will stake our liberty, and be it laid down that the side which loseth shall go into exile for twelve full years, and into concealment for a year thereafter. By this arrangement a bloody war may be averted.'
Dhritarashtra granted his son's wish and recalled the Pandavas. So it came to pass that Yudhishthira sat down
once again to play with Shakuni, and once again Shakuni brought forth the loaded dice. Ere long the game ended, and Yudhishthira had lost.
Duhsasana danced with joy and cried aloud: 'Now is established the empire of Duryodhana.'
Said Bhima: 'Be not too gladsome, O Duhsasana. Hear and remember my words: May I never reach Heaven or meet my sires until I shall drink thy blood!'
Then the Pandava princes cast off their royal garments and clad themselves in deerskins like humble mendicants. Yudhishthira bade farewell to Dhritarashtra and Bhishma and Kripa and Vidura, one by one, and he even said farewell to the Kaurava brethren.
Said Vidura: 'Thy mother, the royal Pritha, is too old to wander with thee through forest and jungle. Let her dwell here until the years of your exile have passed away.
Yudhishthira spoke for his brethren and said: 'Be it so, O saintly Vidura. Now bless us ere we depart, for thou hast been unto us like to a father.'
Pandavas Gambling Rules
Then Vidura blessed each one of the Pandava princes, saying: 'Be saintly in exile, subdue your passions, learn truth in your sorrow, and return in happiness. May these eyes be blessed by beholding thee in Hastinapur once again.'
Pritha wept over Draupadi and blessed her. Then the Princess of Panchala went forth with loose tresses; but ere she departed from the city she vowed a vow, saying: 'From this day my hair will fall over my forehead until Bhima shall have slain Duhsasana and drunk his blood; then shall Bhima tie up my tresses while his hands are yet wet with the blood of Duhsasana.'
The Pandava princes wandered towards the deep forest, and Draupadi followed them.
Pandavas Gambling Meaning
Footnotes
237:1 Candahar.
240:1Pron. doo-sas´a-na.
246:1 similar to 'Amen'.