Duryodhana is very upset with the good fortune bestowed upon the Pandavas. While negative thoughts run rampant in Duryodhana's head, Shakuni visits him. Worried about his nephew, he suggests another idea. This time, they decide that the plot will take place in their own court, ensuring a successful end to the Pandavas. Duryodhana is piqued and wishes to hear more. Shakuni reveals that it is time to completely destroy the Pandavas, using Yudhishthira's weakness- gambling. Shakuni is confident that he can make Yudhishthira gamble away his entire kingdom. The only hindrance is receiving Dhritarashtra's consent in getting the Pandavas over to Hastinapur and then getting them to play a game of dice. Of course, Shakuni and Duryodhana know Dhritarashtra's weakness and play him to the hilt. Shakuni first approaches Dhritarashtra and requests him to bring Duryodhana out of depression. Duryodhana, using his father's weakness, tells him about his experiences at Indraprastha and how this has consumed him with envy. They tell him about the game of dice. Dhritarashtra is helpless- on the one hand he wishes to fulfill his child's desire, while on the other hand he knows that Vidura and the other elders will rebuke him for the malicious intent behind this. Duryodhana's insistence and persuasion leads Dhritarashtra to agree to the plan. Without further delay, an order to build a beautiful hall in Jayanta, a suburb of Hastinapur, is given. The plan is to invite the Pandavas to this Sabha and have the game of dice played here itself. Vidura, on hearing about the invitation to be extended to the Pandavas, pleads with Dhritarashtra not to do so. But Dhritarashtra refuses to listen. Instead, Vidura is given the task of going to Indraprastha and inviting the Pandavas to Jayanta to have a look at the Sabha and also have a friendly game of dice. With a heavy heart, Vidura leaves for Indraprastha!
A bit of background on Shakuni:
Shakuni, the only surviving male member of his family, was gifted a pair of dice made of his father's bones. His father, King Subhala, was imprisoned along with his 100 sons. They were given barely given any food, leaving them all starved and weak. King Subhala then decided to let only one son, Shakuni, live by giving him all their food rations. At his deathbed, King Subhala asked Shakuni to make a pair of dice with his bones, knowing that all outcomes from that pair will always favor his son - the dice show the numbers that Shakuni wants.
Yudhishthira receives his uncle with a great deal of affection. Vidura sadly gives the message of Dhritarashtra, and Yudhishthira is intrigued by the message. He knows his uncle well and is convinced the game of dice is another attempt to defeat the Pandavas. He realizes that the four people ie. Shakuni, Vivimsati, Purumitra and Chitrasena ( three brothers of Duryodhana) who have been selected to play against Yudhishthira are extremely clever in the game of dice. Yudhishthira knows he is extremely weak in the game. He recognizes that what happens in this world has been ordained by the Creator and that Fate has already planned the way in which events must take place. As he has no choice, he agrees to go to Hastinapur accompanied by Kunti, Draupadi and his brothers.
The welcome given by the citizens of Hastinapur brings much joy, amidst the unpredictability of the visit's outcome. The Pandavas are shown around the new palace, with particular attention given to the Sabha. A friendly game of dice is mooted by Shakuni. This is rejected by Yudhisthira, stating that such games only brought unpleasantness. Shakuni does not give up, and keeps insisting that a friendly game will not affect relationships. Yudhisthira refuses to back down, and wants no part in this game that promotes cheating extensively. Shakuni uses his wiles, and has Yudhisthira termed a coward. He says that Yudhisthira is so used to all the wealth and power he enjoys in Indraprastha, that he does not want to give up of any of it. This strikes a chord, and Yudhisthira rejects that claim, saying he is not a coward or proud of his power. This gives Shakuni the edge, prodding Yudhisthira to accept a friendly game of dice. Defeated with words, Yudhisthira gives in.
The game of dice, as addictive as it gets, can lose many a man his very head. Knowing Yudhisthira's weakness for the game, the Kauravas use this information to turn it from a 'friendly game' to a rather competitive one. From a simple ante of money and jewelry, the wagers start getting bigger and more promising for the Kauravas. Shakuni uses the dice given by his departed father, and wins at every turn. Yudhishthira puts on stake Nakula, followed by Sahadeva, Arjuna and then Bheema. Yudhishthira then wages himself, Shakuni wins all. Everybody is stunned and shocked but unable to say anything. Shakuni implores Yudhishthira to bet Draupadi, which he does and loses her as well. All is lost for Yudhishthira!
Vidura objects to this unlawful wager. He is appalled by the insult meted out to Draupadi. He warns them of being vanquished by the Pandavas and an after life in hell. But Duryodhana silences his low born uncle and does not pay heed to his admonition. Duryodhana sends a messenger to Draupadi's apartment to get her to court. Draupadi is stunned with the news and refuses to come. She wants to know if Yudhishthira first gambled himself away or her. The messenger comes back to as Yudhishthira who is silent with agony. Duryodhana gets angry and commands the messenger to tell Draupadi to come to the court and ask for herself. Draupadi still refuses and asks the messenger to again go back and ask Yudhishthira what he suggests she do. Yudhishthira is still speechless. Duryodhana now sends his brother, Dussasana, to bring Draupadi. Dussasana mockingly and very indecently commands her to come. He grabs her by her hair and drags her to the court. With her long hair dragged by Dussasana and her dress all wet with her tears because of his rough handling, Draupadi enters the Sabha!
Draupadi, with her mane unraveled, stood in front of the elders in raging fear. She did not know the reason why she was dragged to the court, or why none of her husbands responded to her disgraced position. All the unasked questions in her eyes made Dussasana smirkingly admit that her husband had wagered her in a game of dice and lost, and that she was now a slave of the Kauravas along with her husbands. She turned to Bhishma, questioning him if she was a slave. Bhishma has no answer for her.
Vikarna, one of the Kaurava brothers, could take no more. He stood up for Draupadi and declared that she was not a fair wager, and that she could not be a slave to the Kauravas. This angered Radheya, who defied Vikarna and asked him not to interfere in a matter beyond his scope. He also spoke of how Draupadi could act so modest being the wife of five men. He then suggested that a slave should dress like a slave and not wear royal garments, prompting all the Pandavas to shed their royal robes. When Dusshasana suggested the same to Draupadi, she gave him a menacing glance. This did not stop him from attempting to disrobe her. Knowing fully well that her husbands and the court elders would not come to her rescue, she called out to the one Lord that she knew would protect her. Her prayer to Krishna reached the ears of all present, while Dusshasana was pulling her saree away from her. All the elders and the Pandavas closed their eyes, not willing to be a spectator of this gruesome scene. Little did they know that Krishna, the ever present savior, was there in spirit to protect his sister. He never let her garment end, despite Dusshasana's fervor in disrobing Draupadi. Finally Dusshasana got tired, let Draupadi go. Bheema finally vowed to kill Dussasana, tear his heart out and drink his blood. Radheya orders Dusshasana to take her away to the servant's quarters. Poor Draupadi again implored that she was not a slave to all the elders present.
Everybody was scared of Duryodhana except for Vidura who kept saying that Vikarna was right. Duryodhana rubbed salt to the wound and suggested to Draupadi to pick one of the Kauravas as her husband. These words were like darts to Bheema. Duryodhana slyly displayed his left thigh to Draupadi suggesting she sit on it. This crude remark angered Bheema even more and he vowed to break the thigh of Duryodhana with his Gada and drink the blood from Dussasana's heart.
Radheya prodded Dussasana to take Draupadi to the women's quarters so that Duryodhana could take her for himself. Draupadi again appealed to all the elders present, Bheeshma, Drona, Dhritarashtra. No one spoke. Vidura again tried to ask Dhritarashtra to make peace but of no use. Bheema, now along with his vow also proclaimed that Arjuna will kill Radheya, and that Sahadeva will kill Shakuni in the war that is bound to happen. Arjuna and Sahadeva took up the challenge. Nakula, not to be left behind took a vow to kill Sakuni's son, Uluka. Flowers rained on the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra, realizing the seriousness of the situation, understood that his sons were doomed now. To appease Draupadi, he asked her to ask him for two boons. She requested him to release Yudhishthira for the first boon and the other Pandavas for the other boon. Dhritarashtra asked the Pandavas to forgive all of them, gave back all that was lost, and asked them to go back to Khandavaprastha.
Duryodhana was furious on seeing the Pandavas leave. He was sure that the Pandavas would seek revenge. He was also aware of the wrath of Drupada and Dhristadyumna on hearing the trauma Draupadi was put to. He suggested to his father to again invite the Pandavas for a game. The loser would go live in the forest for twelve years and the thirteenth year would be in disguise and if recognized, another twelve years in the forest. No one approved this, including Gandhari. But Dhritarashtra, again out of the love for his son abided by his request. The Pandavas were again invited and they again left for Hastinapur very well knowing the outcome.
The game was played, against the wishes of all the elders. It was to be only one game, with a mighty wager. The dice was rolled and the result was as expected. Yudhishthira accepted the outcome and asked his brothers and Draupadi to prepare for Vanavas. Vidura suggested Kunti to stay back in his house.
Vidura, disappointed at the turn of events, told Dhritarashtra to prepare for the death of his children, which was imminent. His words of warning were ignored earlier, which is why he needed to give Dhritarashtra the bitter truth of the near future. Yudhisthira covered his face in fear of razing the city to ashes with his angry look, Bheema looked at his hands while walking because he could only think of revenge, Arjuna spread sand as he walks to let them know that arrows would fall in a similar manner, Nakula and Sahadeva smeared themselves with ash and dust to be unrecognizable, while Draupadi walked weeping her eyes out and her hair loose, reminding the Kaurava wives of their similar plight in 13 years. Dhaumya, their guru, plucked Kusa grass and recited hymns from Saama Veda in praise of Yama and Rudra to show the funeral rites of the Kauravas. Hearing all this, peace left Dhritarashtra. He realized that his actions were going to reap terrible consequences that had already been set in motion.
This is the end of Sabha Parva.
Our Saint for today was Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Adi Shankaracharya, was born in the 14th year of the reign of Vikramaaditya in 700 AD, near Kalady, Kerala. His parents were very pious and devotees of Shiva. The divine child composed his first book at age 6, and took sanyas at the age of 8. His guru was Govindapada at Narmadesvara. Adi Shankaracharya composed original works such as Bhaja Govindam, Atma Bodha, Tattva Bodha, Daksinamurthy Stotra, Vivekachudamani, etc. He travelled across the country four times and established his mathas near Badrinaath in the north, Puri in the east, Sringeri in the south, and Dwaraka in the west. He single- handedly revived the Hindu culture and brought 75 different schools of thought under his Advaita philosophy. At age 32, he had completed his mission in life.
We did Gita chanting verses 12-14. We will send the recording by Whatsapp.
We are off next 2 weeks as it is our winter break. See you all on Jan 7,2024. Happy Holidays to all!!
Regards,
Indira and Raji
