Mahabharata – Maha:2.73-2.79

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This episode is from [Maha:2.73-2.79]. After the humiliating events in the court and the intervention of Dhritarashtra to free the Pandavas, the Kauravas—seething with anger—took counsel with Karna and Shakuni. Dushasana voiced the collective outrage: “What we won with such difficulty has been thrown away by the old man. The Pandavas are free, and now they are even more dangerous, as they will not forget the humiliation of Draupadi. They will certainly strike back, with the help of their allies in Panchala and Vrishni. If we don’t act, we will be exterminated!”

Amid the discussion, Shakuni, the master of deceit, suggested another plan to deal with the Pandavas. He proposed a second game of dice, this time with pre-agreed stakes: “Whoever loses will give up their kingdom and riches and live in the forest for twelve years, followed by a thirteenth year incognito. If discovered during this thirteenth year, the exile will repeat for another twelve years.” Confident in his skill at dice, Shakuni believed this would rid them of the Pandavas for a long time.

Duryodhana’s Manipulation and Dhritarashtra’s Weakness

Duryodhana approached his father Dhritarashtra with cunning arguments, citing Brihaspati, the teacher of the gods, and saying, “Those who wrong you must be slain by any means possible.” He used the fear of retaliation by the Pandavas to justify another game of dice. Dhritarashtra, blinded by his love for Duryodhana, raised only feeble objections before being swayed. He agreed to the rematch, effectively sealing the Pandavas’ fate, despite the counsel of Bhishma, Drona, and even his wife Gandhari, who had all opposed this decision.

Gandhari, in her wisdom, reminded Dhritarashtra of Vidura’s early warnings when Duryodhana was born, saying, “Vidura had prophesied that this son of ours would bring about the destruction of the Kuru race. Even now, it is not too late. Forsake this wicked Duryodhana and stop encouraging his folly. Enough injustice has already been done to the Pandavas!” But Dhritarashtra, resigned to what he saw as fate, replied, “If it is destined that our race should be destroyed, what can I, a mere mortal, do to prevent it?”

CharactersRole in the StoryConnection to Other Mythological Stories
DhritarashtraBlinded by his love for Duryodhana, he allows a second dice gameHis moral blindness parallels the downfall of kings like Ravana, who ignored wise counsel and gave in to familial attachment
GandhariThe voice of reason, urges Dhritarashtra to stop DuryodhanaGandhari’s wisdom and attempts to prevent disaster echo Kunti’s efforts to protect her sons from evil forces in the Mahabharata
ShakuniMaster of deceit, suggests a rematch to rid the PandavasShakuni’s role mirrors tricksters like Narada and Vibhishana, who incite conflict, though often in service of righteousness

Yudhishthira’s Acceptance of Fate

Meanwhile, the royal messenger reached the Pandavas as they were heading back to Indraprastha. Upon hearing of the invitation for a second game, Yudhishthira, though heartbroken, accepted it. He explained that Kshatriya dharma (the warrior’s code) dictated that he could not refuse a challenge, especially from his elders. “The destiny of men has been ordained by the Creator. Whether I play or not, the fruits of our past deeds are inevitable,” Yudhishthira said, resigned to his fate. This mirrors the fatalistic acceptance of Rama, who, despite knowing the golden deer was a trick in the Ramayana, still pursued it to honor his wife Sita’s request.

Yudhishthira’s DilemmaSignificanceConnection to Other Stories
Duty vs. DestructionYudhishthira feels bound to his dharma despite knowing the outcomeThis reflects Rama’s obedience to dharma in the Ramayana, even when it leads to disastrous consequences

The Second Game of Dice

The Pandavas returned to Hastinapura, and the game commenced once again. Shakuni, ever the manipulator, repeated the stakes: twelve years of exile, followed by a thirteenth year in hiding. If found, the cycle would repeat. Despite the inevitable outcome, Yudhishthira accepted the challenge. As expected, Shakuni won the game, and the Pandavas were vanquished once more.

One by one, the Pandavas cast off their royal robes and dressed in coarse deer-skins, preparing for their exile. Dushasana taunted them cruelly, mocking their downfall and suggesting Draupadi forsake the Pandavas and choose a new husband among the Kauravas. The Pandavas, humiliated yet resolute, vowed vengeance.

The Oaths of Vengeance

Bheema, furious at Dushasana’s insults, swore: “If I do not tear open your chest in battle and drink your life-blood, may I not attain salvation!” Duryodhana, reveling in the moment, mocked Bheema’s walk, mimicking him with derision. Enraged, Bheema vowed to break Duryodhana’s thigh in battle, a foreshadowing of the epic duel that would come in the final stages of the Kurukshetra War. Arjuna, too, swore that he would kill Karna, the instigator of their humiliation, while Sahadeva vowed to kill Shakuni, the mastermind behind the dice games.

Pandavas’ VowsSignificanceConnection to Other Mythological Stories
Bheema’s VowSwears to tear Dushasana’s chest open and drink his bloodReflects the fierce Kshatriya vengeance, similar to Arjuna’s vow to kill Jayadratha for his role in Abhimanyu’s death
Arjuna’s VowSwears to kill Karna in battleArjuna’s vow parallels the fated clash between Rama and Ravana, both battles driven by insults and violation of honor

The Pandavas’ Departure

As the Pandavas prepared to leave for exile, they sought the blessings of the elders. Vidura, ever the voice of wisdom, consoled them, saying, “You have been vanquished by sinful means, and there is no disgrace in that. Remember your invincible brothers, Arjuna and Bheema. With their strength, you will return victorious.”

Vidura offered to care for Kunti during their exile, as she was too frail to endure the rigors of the forest. Kunti, heartbroken by her sons’ fate, grieved deeply. As she saw them dressed in coarse deer-skins, she lamented, “Whence has this calamity befallen you? I know of no sins that you are guilty of. It must be for my sins that you suffer so.”

Kunti’s lament, filled with grief and guilt, echoes Gandhari’s sorrow for the Kauravas after the Kurukshetra War when she cursed Krishna for allowing her sons to be destroyed.

CharacterRole in the StoryConnection to Other Mythological Stories
KuntiGrieves for her sons and takes responsibility for their sufferingReflects Gandhari’s sorrow after the Kurukshetra War, as she blames herself and curses Krishna for the destruction of her sons

The Dark Omens and Vidura’s Prophecy

As the Pandavas left Hastinapura, dark omens filled the skies. A jackal howled, meteors fell, and Rahu devoured the sun, though it was not an eclipse day. Vidura interpreted these signs for Dhritarashtra: “These omens signify the destruction of the Kuru dynasty. The evil deeds of your sons have sealed their fate.”

Vidura’s foreboding echoes the role of sages and wise men in other epics who warn of impending doom. Similar to Narada’s warnings to Ravana about abducting Sita, Vidura’s words fall on deaf ears, as Dhritarashtra remains helpless in the grip of fate.

Narada’s Prophecy and Drona’s Conflict

A few days later, the celestial sage Narada visited the Kuru court and delivered a grim prophecy: “Fourteen years from now, the Kauravas shall perish at the hands of Bheema and Arjuna, in consequence of Duryodhana’s evil deeds.” The courtiers were stunned, but Narada vanished before they could respond.

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