THE SECOND ROUND OF THE GAME OF DICE

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > ANU DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 75 - THE SECOND ROUND OF THE GAME OF DICE

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Praatikaamee, agreeably to the commands of the intelligent king Dhritarashtra, coming upon Yudhishthira – the Paartha who had by that time gone a great way, addressed the monarch and said, ‘These are the words of your father-like uncle, O Bharata, spoken to you, ‘The sabha is ready. O Paandavaa, O king Yudhishthira, come and cast the dice.’’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Creatures obtain fruits good and bad according to the dispensation of the Ordainer of the creation. Those fruits are inevitable whether I play or not. This is a summon to dice; it is, besides the command of the old king. Although I know that it will prove destructive to me, yet I cannot refuse.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Although (a living) animal made of gold was an impossibility, yet (Sri) Rama suffered himself to be tempted by a (golden) deer. Indeed, the minds of men over whom calamities hang, became deranged and out of order. Yudhishthira, therefore, having said these words, retraced his steps along with his brothers. Knowing full well the deception practised by Shakuni, Paarthaa came back to sit at dice with him again. These mighty warriors again entered that sabha, paining the hearts of all their friends. Compelled by Fate they once more sat down at ease for gambling for the destruction of themselves.

“Shakuni then said, ‘The old king has given you back all your wealth. That is well. But, O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), listen to me, there is a stake of great value. Either defeated by you at dice, dressed in deer skins we shall enter the great forest and live there for twelve years passing the whole of the thirteenth year in some inhabited region, unrecognised, and if recognized, return to an exile of another twelve years; or vanquished by us, dressed in deer skins you shall, with Krishna (Draupadi), live for twelve years in the forest passing the whole of the thirteenth year unrecognised, in some inhabited region. If recognised, an exile of another twelve years is to be the consequence. On the expiry of the thirteenth year, each is to have his kingdom surrendered by the other. O Yudhishthira, with this resolution, play with us, O Bharata, casting the dice.’

“At these words, they that were in that sabha, raising up their weapons said in great anxiety of mind, and from the strength of their feelings these words, ‘Alas, fie on the friends of Duryodhana that they do not inform him of his great danger. Whether he, O bull among the Bharatas (Dhritarashtra), understands or not, of his own sense, it is your duty to tell him plainly.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘King Yudhishthira, hearing these various remarks, from shame and a sense of Dharma again sat at dice. Though possessed of great intelligence and fully knowing the consequences, he again began to play, as if knowing that the destruction of the Kurus was at hand.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘How can, O Shakuni, a king like me, always observant of the Dharma of his own order (Swadharma anupaalayan in Sanskrit), refuse, when summoned to dice? Therefore, I play with you.’

“Shakuni answered, ‘We have many cows, horses, milch cows, an infinite number of goats and sheep, elephants, treasures, gold and slaves both male and female. All these were staked by us before but now let this be our one stake – exile into the forest – being defeated either you or we will dwell in the forest (for twelve years) and the thirteenth year, unrecognised, in some inhabited place. O bulls among men, with this determination, we will play.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘O Bharata (Janamejaya), this proposal about a stay in the forest was uttered but once. The Paarthaa (Yudhishthira), however, accepted it and Shakuni took up the dice. Casting them, he said to Yudhishthira, ‘Look, I have won.’”