Our mission in the eastern region was successful. We bade farewell to Dandapani, the king of Kashi, and returned to Dwaraka.
This time also the Lord had a grand welcome in Dwaraka, but something was amiss. The Lord felt it because of something noticeable. As he felt it, I and Uddhava Maharaja also felt it. Only our Balabhadradada didn’t feel it. It was just not in his nature.
So, what exactly was amiss in today’s welcome of the Lord in Dwaraka? It was that the aged, yet physically strong, thick-bearded Maharaja Vasudeva did not come to the Shuddhaksha gate as usual with a smile on his face. The Lord immediately felt his absence. He pulled chief minister Vipruthu aside and asked him, “Maharaja is not to be seen anywhere minister? Is his health okay?”
Chief Minister responded promptly, “Maharaj is fine physically, but… but…”
“But what?” The Lord’s blue face, round like a sunflower never reflected distress. His large forehead adorned with vermillion tilak never showed a single crease. But today I saw that crease on his forehead very clearly. It got me worried too. Uddhava Maharaja also became restless.
“The Lord of Dwaraka should take some rest first. I will present all the details in front of him later.” The chief minister said promptly.
After having lunch and taking some rest the Lord sent me to invite chief minister Vipruthu. I came to the Lord’s resting chambers to escort the Chief Minister. I surmised that he probably wanted to talk something special and secret with the Chief Minister. So, I bowed to the Lord and said, “May I take your leave, Sire?”
He came close to me, and with a smile he put his hand on my shoulders and said, “Daruka, such a mind reader you are! That is why I consider you my friend. There is no need for you to leave. Probably, your presence is required here. So, stay!” He gave me such a smile it made me feel as if I myself was smiling; that I was not looking at him, but at a mirror!
Before the Lord asked anything, chief minister Vipruthu patiently put forth each detail of the inconceivable drama of the human mind that had taken place in Hastinapura, which none of us could ever have imagined. He said, “Oh Lord of Dwaraka, something untoward has happened in Hastinapura. I am in a quandary as to how to share it with you. You and all eighteen families of Yadavas can suffer the loss of a few, or maybe hundreds of lives on the battlefield and recover from it after a while. We can understand the calamity, but when a kingdom is annihilated from its roots then one loses one’s wits, and doesn’t know what to do.”
Hearing these words, the Lord went near the chief minister and putting his hand on his shoulders he gently patted him and calmly said, “Chief Minister Vipruthu, you are experienced and aged. You have seen grandsire Bhishma of Hastinapura in person many a times. Many a times he has saved the sinking Hastinapura with sheer courage. You are also like a grandsire to the citizens of Dwaraka. So please tell us everything without any inhibitions. What has happened in Hastinapura?”
As the Lord comforted him, Chief Minister Vipruthou gathered his courage, stood in front of the Lord of Dwaraka politely with both his palms joined together and began recounting the unbelievable happenings one after the other. He was still hesitant. He said, “The Pandavas had received an invitation in Indraprastha to ‘attend the Vishnuyaga yajna’ from the Kuru king Dhritarashtra of Hastinapura.”
I remembered all the improbable things that had happened in Indraprastha a few days ago, at the time of the Rajasuya yajna. So, when I heard the word ‘yajna’ I pricked my ears and started listening carefully. The chief minister continued, “As per the invitation the Pandava Maharaja Yudhishthira went to Hastinapura with his brothers Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva and a few select warriors. Maharani Draupadidevi and Rajmata Kuntidevi also accompanied them. But… this invitation of Kurus was not only for the Vishnuyaga yajna. Prince Duryodhana, Shakunimama who always fanned Duryodhana’s pride and Kanaka had planned an evil political conspiracy in the guise of the invitation. They tried very hard to involve Karna – the king of Anga also in this conspiracy.”
“What kind of conspiracy Chief Minister? Did they succeed in it? How come Karna did not participate in this conspiracy in spite of being the king of Anga and Duryodhana’s best friend? Vipruthu, tell us everything as it actually happened without any hesitation.” The Lord comforted the chief minister again.
The experienced chief minister had recovered quite a bit now; he began narrating the events rapidly. While we were occupied in the campaign against Shalva and the mission in the eastern region, many abominable and improbable events had taken place.
The Chief Minister said, “Prince Duryodhana dared Maharaja Yudhishthira to play a game of gambling even before the yajna. He invited Yudhishthira to a gambling hall as grand as the royal assembly. This cunning invitation was sent purposefully, knowing fully well that Yudhishthira loves gambling. It was bad luck of the Aaryavarta and the venerable Pandava that he accepted the invitation. He should have just declined, giving an excuse of ill-health or any other reason.”
The Lord said, “I have always admonished and cautioned the eldest Pandava about his obsession for the game of gambling. I always alerted him that his thoughtless gambling would lead him towards the path of destruction. He always brushed it off with a smile, offering the justification that gambling is an honourable game that befits royalty. It is not an addiction like alcoholism that thrusts one on the path of destruction.” The Lord always addressed the eldest Pandava as if equal in age. The reason for that was the venerable Pandava himself. He didn’t like the Lord addressing him using any honorific title. And because of him even Bhimsena who was older than the Lord didn’t like it. Arjuna and other two Pandavas were after all younger than the Lord.
The Lord stared at us and said, “Let me tell you chief minister, Yudhishthira must have gambled in Hastinapura for sure. Probably as an entertainment being played in the royal palace he must have played with royal envy especially in the palace of the Kurus. And I can also tell for sure that the expert gambler and Pandava-hater Shakuni must have stroked his royal ego! Shakuni is a perfect judge of human character. He is an astute conspirator. He is not a sharp diplomat as considered by Duryodhana, his ninety-nine brothers, Kanaka and many major Kurus. I wouldn’t be surprised if Karna – the king of Anga didn’t participate in their machinations at all. He is different after all.” While hearing this, I vaguely remembered the connection between the three Jalapurushas - king of Anga, grandsire and the Lord of Dwaraka, which Uddhava Maharaja had shared with me. I immediately noted one thing however, that he considered Kauravas’ mama Shakuni as a conspirator for sure, but nothing close to a diplomat.
“So, chief minister, what was the final result of this gambling competition? What profit did Yudhishthira reap from this gambling session?” The Lord curiously asked the chief minister bringing him back to the subject.
“Profit? Not at all, oh Lord. In fact, he suffered a tremendous loss. A loss that was even more humiliating than death for a Kshatriya! Yudhishthira got so carried away with his obsession of gambling that he lost all his senses. First, he lost all the wealth in his treasury, and then all animals – elephants, horses and camels of his army. In anticipation of winning the next game and recovering his losses he kept playing further insanely. As soon as he lost all the animals in the first bet he immediately put one after the other troop leaders and the troops of his army. When he lost that too he put the puissant Indraprastha kingdom in its entirety that has been erected by his own people and the people of Dwaraka.”
“What? The Indraprastha kingdom?” I couldn’t restrain myself. Holding his hands at the back, moving around in disquiet the Lord was lost in deep thought. Suddenly he stopped and made the Chief Minister talk again, “He must have stopped only after losing the Indraprastha kingdom!” The Lord’s increasing distress was clearly visible.
“No…!” the chief minister was scared about how to put forth further abominable happenings in front of the Lord, even as a duty. And therefore, he hesitated.
“Go ahead Ch
ief Minister, tell me what else did he have to put at stake after losing the kingdom? What did he do?”
“He was adamant, not accepting the defeat. He put at stake each one of his war-expert, indomitable brothers, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhima and Arjuna, one after the other!”
“What? My beloved friend Arjuna too?” The Lord who was moving around restlessly stopped in his tracks. He kept staring at the chief minister in disbelief.
“Yes, Lord of Dwaraka. Even I couldn’t bear to witness all this. But the bitter truth is that it did happen. Yudhishthira lost all these bets too.
“Nobody could think straight. Such tremendous tension arose near the gambling board. None of the Pandavas could understand why even once the dice did not show the numbers that Yudhishthira called out! Why was it happening? How come every single time the dice turned up against them? Not a single dice displayed the numbers they wanted. What kind of magic was this? The wicked duo of Duryodhana and Shakuni had secretly retrieved the bones of late Jarasandha from Girivraja and got the gambling dice created from those bones. Except these two no one else in the game arena had any idea about this. That was the reason these two had astutely kept Karna out of the game arena till the last game of gambling. Had he been present in the game arena at the time of throwing the dice each time, the Kauravas would have lost the game. That was because once Karna had defeated Jarasandha in a duel but had spared his life. It was the name of Karna that had the most fearfulful impact on the bones of Jarasandha. Also, the reason why the Pandavas were losing all dice throws was the loud shouting of Bhima. When Bhima spoke every time the dice were thrown the dice made of Jarasandha’s bones would tremble weirdly with fear, and the result of the dice-throw would be the exact opposite of what the Pandavas wanted. Then all the five brothers would stare wide-eyed at the dice made of Jarasandha’s bones, with dismay. Every moment it was getting increasingly unbearable for powerful Bhima.” The Chief Minister kept talking. The scene in the gambling arena of the Kurus appeared vividly in front of my eyes.
“Subala king Shakuni was delighted and excited like the corn popping on coal embers, as he saw that his bhacha Duryodhana was winning every dice throw. Shakuni and Dushasana had completely lost the sense that they were in the game arena, and Maharaja Dhritarashtra was seated on the ancient royal throne of the Kurus along with Gandharidevi. Grandsire Bhishma was also present, and Drona, Kripa, Vidura and Sanjaya were sitting next to him. I wondered about one thing – Karna, the king of Anga was nowhere to be seen in the game arena. Didn’t know why and how?
“In the end…end…Yudhishthira also forgot his coronation ceremony that had taken place in front of all the major kings of Aaryavarta. He didn’t even remember the matter of fact that a crowned king is answerable to his subjects. And he put even himself at stake!” The Chief Minister bent his head in shame.
“What? The venerable Pandava Yudhishthira put himself at stake in a game of gambling?” I couldn’t help asking. As per my knowledge nobody in Aaryavarta had so far put himself on stake in a game of gambling.
“Indeed. The venerable Pandava Maharaja Yudhishthira put himself at stake in a game of gambling due to his insane obsession about the game. And unfortunately, he lost that bet too.”
I was completely shaken to hear that harsh, bitter truth. But my master, the Lord of Dwaraka was still calm. I was surprised to see his composure.
The Lord walked towards the chief minister slowly and calmly. He was also confused to see the Lord so calm. The Lord looked into his terrified eyes and asked him with the same extreme calmness, “Chief Minister, what happened next? Tell us without any inhibitions. One should always accept the truth like the rising sun – as it is. Speak freely.”
The Chief Minister kept staring in the void in front of him as if he was watching a great, thrilling battle. He even forgot that the Lord and I were standing next to him. He said, “Yudhishthira lost himself in the bet. Shakuni leaped instantly with joy and shouted ‘The Pandava king along with his brothers – have become the slaves of the Kurus today. Do you still want to gamble with us, slave?’
“When Shakuni called him a slave, the eldest Pandava’s head dropped down in unbearable shame and he said, ‘Yes, I would have still played, but what more do I have to put at stake now?’
“Then Duryodhana stood up in excitement and shouted, ‘Mama, tell that slave to put the gambling board away now. He has lost himself along with his brothers in the game of gambling. He has become the slave of the Kurus – along with his brothers. What else is he left with now?’
“At that point Shakuni got up shamelessly and whispered something in the ears of his bhacha without following the code of conduct. Hearing that, Duryodhana’s eyes widened with excitement and he said, ‘You slave, you still have one more thing with you! Will you put that at stake?’
“The venerable Pandava raised his head and asked, ‘What?’
“Fiery words fell on the ears of the spectators, ‘Your wife – the Maharani of Indraprastha – Draupadi!’ Bhimsena leapt with intense rage screaming ‘No…’ Looking at his brother Sahadeva he said, ‘He will surely put Draupadi at stake. I cannot bear this. Sahadevaa, get me some fire. I will burn his hands that played this gambling game. Brandishing the mace on his shoulders Bhimsena ran towards Yudhishthira instead of Duryodhana. Arjuna controlled him with a great deal of effort. ‘If we lose this bet we will return everything that you have lost to us so far. My brothers and I will serve you. We will obey every command of yours.’
“Again, with the help of Shakuni, Duryodhana provoked the gambling addict in the venerable Pandava. As nobody in the gambling arena had heard anything like this ever before, every single person in the arena had stood up. Only two people were sitting – the blind Maharaja Dhritarashtra and the Kuru Maharani Gandharidevi who had blindfolded herself for the sake of her husband. In the commotion of the gambling arena they didn’t understand what was going on.”
I was speechless to hear the name of Draupadidevi. Still the Lord looked calm. He said, “Vipruthu, you are the Chief Minister of the Yadavas. You are not only the minister who looks after the kingdom well but you are also a senior warrior who fights on the battlefield on occasion. Don’t feel shaken like you felt while watching the events in the gambling arena of the Kurus. Tell us as it happened in the gambling arena, that though Yudhishthira had no right over his wife after losing himself in the bet, he put her at stake. And he even lost my sister – my dear friend. What happened after that?”
“Yes sire”, the Chief Minister continued, “As the venerable Pandava placed the last bet and Shakuni threw the dice for that bet, exactly at that time Karna, the king of Anga entered the arena, attracting the attention of everybody present. As the venerable Pandava lost the last bet too Duryodhana lost his senses and shouted ecstatically, ‘Maid…Pandavas’ wife Draupadi has become the maid of the Kurus. Maid! Fragrant maid!!’ Hearing that staggering chant the insane brothers of Duryodhana tossed their shawls in the air and shouted, ‘Maidservant…maid…’”
I looked curiously at the Lord to see his reaction after hearing this. He was still calm! He was staring at the roof, as if he was not present with the two of us!
Without checking whether he was listening or not the Chief Minister kept talking as if he was present in the gambling arena of the Kurus –
“Every moment after this was sickening. Duryodhana and Shakuni took over the entire gambling arena.
“Now Duryodhana, who had gone insane in the delusion that he had indeed become master of Draupadidevi, ordered his attendant and manager of the gambling game Pratikama, ‘Go Pratikama, and present that maid of the Kurus in our service. Immediately!’ Pratikama left. The entire gambling arena kept staring agape in the direction he left. The entire arena was wondering if he was indeed going to present the Maharani of Indraprastha as a maidservant.”
I couldn’t resist asking the chief minister, “So did the attendant really present her as a maidservant then?” The Lord was still calm.
“No
. The servant Pratikama returned alone. With his head bowed he said to his master Duryodhana, ‘Master, she cannot come to the gambling arena. She is wearing a single layer of clothing – she is in her menses!’
“Then Duryodhana rebuked the servant harshly and said to his brother Dushasana, ‘This is not an attendant’s job. My dear valiant brother Dushasanaa, you yourself go to the inner chambers and bring that maid to the gambling arena, whatever condition she is in. If she protests and says no, then drag her by force!’
“‘Your wish is my command, dada said Dushasana and went towards the inner chambers. Within a few moments loud screams were heard from the direction of the inner chambers that left the entire gambling arena shaken. ‘Leave me. You scoundrel, let me go. Remember you also have a mother and sisters.’
“While the Pandava noble lady was screaming, and shouting desperately, Dushasana dragged her into the gambling arena.
“The entire gambling arena stood up at once and kept staring at Dushasana, wondering what was going to happen now.”
Even I kept staring at the Chief Minister wondering what was going to happen. My brain had gone numb. I had never heard such abominable things in my life, ever. I looked at the Lord thinking that he must be extremely enraged to hear about the horrendous humiliation of his dear friend. I was shocked to see that he still sat calm with his eyes closed! I did not understand what exactly he was seeing with his closed eyes.
The Chief Minister kept talking, “The Pandava’s wife Draupadidevi was dragged over the carpet in the gambling arena.
“Her hair dishevelled, Draupadidevi – the wailing wife of the Pandavas, demanded justice from Maharaja Dhritarashtra,‘Maharaja… you are the venerable senior in the Kuru family, my respectable father-in-law. Tell these gambling addicts, did my husband have any right to put me at stake as his wife after he had lost himself in a bet? Didn’t he lose the right of being my husband the moment he became a slave?’
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 50
