A story · Mahabharata — Stories

The Game of Dice

Mahabharata, Sabha Parva 64

The story · English

Sakuni looked at Yudhishthira and told him that he had already lost much of the Pandavas' wealth. He asked if there was anything left that had not yet been lost. Yudhishthira replied that he possessed untold wealth. He challenged Sakuni to stake millions, billions, and trillions, claiming he had as much to match. Sakuni, ready with the dice and using unfair means, cast them and declared that he had won. Yudhishthira then staked his immeasurable herds of cattle, horses, goats, and sheep in the lands stretching from Parnasa to the eastern bank of the Sindu. Again, Sakuni used foul means to ensure he won the stake.

Yudhishthira continued to play, staking his city, his country, and the wealth and persons of all who lived there, excluding the Brahmanas. Once more, Sakuni used foul means and announced his victory. Yudhishthira then looked toward the princes present, those resplendent in their royal ornaments and earrings, and staked them as his wealth. Sakuni cast the dice with foul means and claimed them all. Yudhishthira then turned to his brother Nakula, describing him as a man of mighty arms and a leonine neck. He named Nakula as his next stake. Sakuni remarked that Nakula was dear to him but was now under their subjection, and he won him with the dice.

Yudhishthira then staked Sahadeva, noting his reputation for learning and his skill in administering justice. Though he admitted Sahadeva was too dear to be used as a stake, he proceeded regardless. Sakuni used foul means and won. Sakuni then noted that both sons of Madri were now his, but suggested that Bhimasena and Dhananjaya were still highly regarded by Yudhishthira. Yudhishthira called Sakuni a wretch, accusing him of acting sinfully to create disunion among brothers who were of one heart. Sakuni apologized, claiming that gamesters often utter ravings while excited by the play that they would never say in their waking moments or dreams.

Yudhishthira then staked the prince Falguna, describing him as the one hero in the world, a man ever victorious over foes, who carried the Pandavas like a boat to the other shore of the sea of battle. Despite his value, Yudhishthira placed him on the line. Sakuni used foul means and declared that he had won. He told Yudhishthira that the foremost wielder of the bow, capable of using both hands with equal skill, was now his. Sakuni then urged Yudhishthira to play with the remaining wealth, specifically urging him to stake his dear brother Bhima.

Yudhishthira staked Bhimasena, describing him as the leader of the Pandavas and the foremost in fight, like the wielder of the thunderbolt. He spoke of Bhima's leonine neck, his unmatched might, and his skill with the mace. Sakuni used foul means and won. He then reminded the son of Kunti that he had lost his wealth, his horses, his elephants, and all his brothers. He asked Yudhishthira if anything remained. Yudhishthira replied that he alone, the eldest brother, remained unwon. He staked himself, agreeing to do whatever a won slave must do. Sakuni used foul means and won him as well.

Sakuni told Yudhishthira that permitting himself to be won was very sinful, since there was still wealth left to him. He announced to the assembled kings that he had won all the Pandavas. Sakuni then suggested one final stake to Yudhishthira, telling him to stake Krishna, the princess of Panchala, in an attempt to win himself back. Yudhishthira agreed, describing Draupadi's beauty, her blue curly locks, her eyes like autumn lotuses, and her symmetry. He spoke of her virtues, her compassion, and how she woke first and slept last to look after everyone, down to the cowherds and the shepherds.

As Yudhishthira spoke these words, the aged members of the assembly uttered cries of shame. The entire conclave was agitated and the kings were overcome with grief. Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa were covered in perspiration. Vidura sat with his head in his hands, sighing like a snake and appearing to have lost his reason. In contrast, Dhritarashtra was glad and repeatedly asked if the stake had been won, unable to hide his emotions. Karna and Dussasana laughed aloud while others in the assembly wept. Sakuni, proud and excited, declared that he had won Draupadi and took up the dice that had been cast.

Duryodhana then turned to Vidura and told him to bring Draupadi before them. He ordered that she be forced to sweep the chambers and be kept where the serving-women stayed. Vidura intervened, calling Duryodhana a wretch and warning him that these harsh words were like cords tying him up. He told Duryodhana that he was hanging on the edge of a precipice and, like a deer, provoking tigers to rage. Vidura argued that Draupadi could not be a slave because Yudhishthira had staked her only after he had already lost himself and ceased to be his own master.

Vidura warned that the son of Dhritarashtra was intoxicated and could not see that dice bring about enmity and frightful terrors. He compared Duryodhana's greed to a goat that swallowed a hook, only for the hunter to tear its throat to retrieve it. He stated that only low men, like dogs, use such harsh words against the learned and the ascetic. He said that dishonesty is one of the frightful doors of hell, and lamented that the Kurus had followed Duryodhana on that path of dishonesty. Vidura concluded that because Duryodhana ignored wise counsel, a frightful and universal destruction was sure to overtake all the Kurus.

कथा · हिन्दी

In this book

• Before: Duryodhana in the Crystal Hall · Mahabharata, Sabha Parva 46
• Next: Draupadi in the Assembly · Mahabharata, Sabha Parva 66
• All of Mahabharata — Stories · Ask Krishna about it

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