YUDHISHTHIRA LOSES EVERYTHING

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 64 - YUDHISHTHIRA LOSES EVERYTHING

“Shakuni said, ‘You have, O Yudhishthira, lost much wealth of the Paandavaas. If you have still anything that you have not yet lost to us, O son of Kunti, tell us what it is!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Saubala (also known as Shakuni), I know that I have untold wealth. But why is it, O Shakuni, that you ask me of my wealth? Let tens of thousands and millions and millions and tens of millions and hundreds of millions and tens of billions and hundreds of billions and trillions and tens of trillions and hundreds of trillions and tens of quadrillions and hundreds of quadrillions and even more wealth be staked by you. I have as much. With that wealth, O king, I will play with you.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni, ready with the dice, adopting unfair means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have, O Saubala, immeasurable cows, horses, milking cows with calves, goats and sheep in the country extending from the Parnasa (present-day Banas river, Rajasthan state, India) to the eastern bank of the Sindu (present-day Indus river). With this wealth, O king, I will play with you.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this Shakuni, ready with the dice, adopting unfair means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have my city, the country, land, the wealth of all dwelling therein except of the Brahmanas, and all those persons themselves except Brahmanas still remaining to me. With this wealth, O king, I will play with you.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look! I have won.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘These princes here, O king, who look magnificient in their ornaments, their ear-rings, Nishkaas and all the royal ornaments on their persons are now my wealth. With this wealth, O king, I play with you.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni, ready with his dice, adopting foul means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look! I have won them.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘This Nakula here, of mighty arms, lion-like neck, of red eyes and filled with youth, is now my one stake. Know that he is my wealth.’

“Shakuni said, ‘O king Yudhishthira, prince Nakula is dear to you. He is already under our subjection. With whom (as stake) will you now play?’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Saying this, Shakuni cast those dice, and said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look! He has been won by us.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘This Sahadeva administers justice (Dharma in Sanskrit). He has also acquired a reputation for learning in this world. However undeserving he may be to be staked in play, with him as stake I will play, with such a dear object as it, indeed, he were not so!’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look! I have won.’

“Shakuni continued, ‘O king, the sons of Maadri, dear to you, have both been won by me. It would seem, however, that Bhimasena and Dhananjaya are regarded very much by you.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Wretch (Shakuni) (Mooda in Sanskrit)! you act sinfully in thus seeking to create disunion among us who are all of one heart, disregarding Dharma.’

“Shakuni said ‘One that is intoxicated falls into a pit and stays there deprived of the power of motion. You are, O king, senior to us in age, and possessed of the highest accomplishments. O bull of the Bharata race, I bow to you. You know, O Yudhishthira, that gamblers, while excited with play, utter such talks that they never indulge in the like of them in their waking moments nor even in dream.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘He that takes us like a boat to the other shore (shore of victory) of the sea of battle, he that is ever victorious over enemies, the prince who is filled with great activity, he who is the one hero in this world. With that Phalguna (Arjuna) as stake, however, undeserving of being made so, I will now play with you.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look! I have won.’

“Shakuni continued, ‘This foremost of all wielders of the bow, this Paandavaa (Arjuna) capable of using both his hands with equal activity has now been won by me. O, play now with the wealth that is still left to you, with Bhima your dear brother, as your stake, O Paandavaa (Yudhishthira).’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O king, however, undeserving he may be of being made a stake, I will now play with you by staking Bhimasena, that prince who is our leader, who is the foremost in fight, like the wielder of Vajra (Lord Indra) – the one enemy of the Daanavaas – the Mahatma with lion-like neck, arched eye-brows, eyes looking askance, who is incapable of putting up with an insult, who has no equal in might in the world, who is the foremost of all wielders of the mace (Gada in Sanskrit), and who grindes all enemies.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this, Shakuni, ready with the dice adopting foul means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look! I have won.’

“Shakuni continued, ‘You have, O son of Kunti (Yudhishthira), lost much wealth, horses, elephants and your brothers as well. Say, if you have anything which you have not lost.’

“Yudhishthira, said ‘I alone, the eldest of all my brothers and dear to them, am still unwon. Won by you, I will do what he that is won will have to do.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing this Shakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look! I have won.’

“Shakuni continued, ‘You have permitted yourself to be won. This is very sinful. There is wealth still left to you, O king. Therefore, you having lost yourself is certainly sinful.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having said this, Shakuni, well-skilled at dice, spoke to all the brave kings present there of his having won, one after another, all the Paandavaas. Saubala (also known as Shakuni) then, addressing Yudhishthira said, ‘O king, there is still one stake dear to you that is still unwon. You stake Krishna (also known as Draupadi), the princess of Paanchaalaa. By her, win yourself back.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘With Draupadi as stake, who is neither short nor tall, neither spare nor fat, who is possessed of blue curly locks, I will now play with you. Possessed of eyes like the leaves of the autumn lotus, and fragrant as the autumn lotus, equal in beauty to Her who delights in autumn lotuses (Mahalakshmi), and to Sree (Mahalakshmi) Herself in symmetry and every grace she is such a woman as a man may desire for wife in respect of softness of heart, wealth of beauty and of qualities. Possessed of every accomplishment, compassionate and sweet-speeched, she is such a woman as a man may desire for wife in respect of her fitness for the acquisition of Dharma, Kaamaa and Arthaa. Going to bed last and waking up first, she looks after all down to the cowherds and the shepherds. Her face too, when covered with sweat, looks as the lotus or the jasmine. Of slender waist like that of the wasp (Vedi Madhya in Sanskrit), of long flowing hair locks, of red eye, and body without down, is the princess of Paanchaalaa. O king, making the slender-waisted Draupadi, who is such as my stake, I will play with you, O Saubala (also known as Shakuni).’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘When the intelligent Dharmaraja Yudhishthira has spoken thus ‘Fie!’ ‘Fie!’ were the words that were uttered by all the aged persons that were in the sabha. The whole assembly was agitated, and the kings who were present there all gave way to grief. Bhishma, Drona and Kripa were covered with sweat. Vidura holding his head between his hands sat like one that had lost his reason. He (Vidura) sat with face downwards giving way to his thought and sighing like a snake. But Dhritarashtra glad, at heart, asked repeatedly, ‘Has the stake been won?’ ‘Has the stake been won?’ and could not hide his emotions. Karna with Duhshaasana and others laughed aloud, while tears began to flow from the eyes of all other present in the sabha. Saubala (also known as Shakuni), proud of success and agitated with excitement and repeating, ‘You have one stake’, ‘dear to you’, etc said, ‘Look! I have won’ and took up the dice that had been cast.’”