Towards the end of the epic, when Yudhishtira ascends to Svarga (heaven) & later to Naraka (hell), Indra tells him that he had to experience Naraka briefly for the half-lie to Dronacharya. In fact, until then, his chariot would ride a little above the ground owing to his Dharma, and it comes crashing down. However, there is no mention of his gambling addiction here. It looks like his gambling had no effect on his chariot remaining afloat until the lie. Did Vyasa simply miss this? Maybe gambling wasn't considered a sin? Maybe this is an internal contradiction?
The answer is subtle & intriguing.
After Yudhishtira performs the Rajasuya Yagna, where Sisupala is killed, he has doubts about the outcome of the Yagna. He seems to be affected by Sisupala's killing & asks Vyasa if any bad outcome will end with the Yagna. Vyasa replies that with him, Yudhishtira as a cause, a destruction of the Kshatriyas (warrior class) was imminent in 13 years.
Here comes an interesting concept of Purusha Prayatna (human effort) in the Mahabharatha. Even though fate has ordained the destruction, Yudhishtira wants to do everything humanly possible to avert the destruction. He takes an oath that he shall not speak harsh words to any of his brothers or kings. He would live under the command of his relatives. He will make distinction between his children & others. He has avoid all disagreement, since that is the cause of war in this world. He will agree to others' wishes.
Later, Duryodhana, seething with jealousy at the wonders & riches of Indraprastha, disgregards Drithirashtra's & Vidura's advise & convinces his reluctant father to invite Yudhishtira for a game of dice. His uncle, Shakuni, calls Yudhishtira a gambling addict who can't refuse an invitation. Drithirashtra & Vidura foresee that this game is going to cause issues but he issues the order anyway.
When Vidura extends the invite, Yudhishtira expresses his reluctance to play, cites gamblers as deceitful, and agrees to play to fulfill Drithirashtra's wishes as a son. Before the game, Yudhishtira again explains the sins of gambling. He also warns against using deceit in the game. Does this sound like a gambling addict? Shakuni insists. Later, Duryodhana says that Shakuni will play on his behalf. Yudhishtira again says that this is against established norms and says that he will play if they insist. He was in essence following his oath taken after the Rajasuya Yagna.
Shakuni starts the game & keeps winning without a single chance given to Yudhishtira. After several victories, Vidura advises an end to the game & warns of eventual war & complete destruction. Duryodhana insists on continuing. After winning all the wealth & kingdom, Shakuni continues to play. Here, Yudhishtira first bets Nakula & Sahadeva, while elaborating their virtues. Shakuni caustically comments that he bet Madri's sons first. Upon Yudhishtira's rebuke, he apologizes.
He then bets Arjuna & Bhima, again extolling their virtues & finally himself. After he himself is lost, Shakuni asks Yudhishtira (now his slave), to bet Draupadi, which he does, extolling all her virtues.
Duryodhana now wishes to insult Draupadi & is rebuked by Vidura. He ignores him & sends a servant, Pratikamin to summon Draupadi. Pratikamin says that Yudhishtira lost himself in gambling & bet her. Draupadi asks him, if he was intoxicated & bet her before others. Hearing an answer in the negative, Draupadi sends him back asking who was lost first, Yudhishtira or Draupadi herself. This event happens a second time. Then, Dusshashana is sent, who drags her to court by her hair.
A furious Bhima accuses Yudhishtira of being an inveterate gambler & wants to burn his hands, but is rebuked by Arjuna, who points out that he was forced to play against his will. This looks like the origin of the charge. None of the other brothers ever rebuke Yudhishtira about the gambling game.
Later, in a subsequent game of dice, the Pandavas are exiled. In the forest, Yudhishtira, seeing the travails of Draupadi, laments about being addicted to dice. Sometimes, we may play to the public perception or the other person's perception of ourselves even though we know that it is wrong. It appears that Yudhishtira is doing that here to soothe Draupadi.
Why did the Kauravas not invite the Pandavas to another game of dice after the exile? During exile, Yudhishtira gains skill in the game of dice from a great sage in the Kamakya forest. Without this skill, the Kauravas would probably have invited him again to another game of dice. He uses his skill in dice to live in disguise as Kanka in the last year of exile. However, before joining the court, he again tells the king that he doesn't like gambling but will play for the king's pleasure. When harassed by Kichaka, Draupadi complains to Bhima about Yudhishtira & his addiction to dice. It looks like Draupadi was using Bhima's perception to convince him to kill Kichaka.
The answer is subtle & intriguing.
After Yudhishtira performs the Rajasuya Yagna, where Sisupala is killed, he has doubts about the outcome of the Yagna. He seems to be affected by Sisupala's killing & asks Vyasa if any bad outcome will end with the Yagna. Vyasa replies that with him, Yudhishtira as a cause, a destruction of the Kshatriyas (warrior class) was imminent in 13 years.
Here comes an interesting concept of Purusha Prayatna (human effort) in the Mahabharatha. Even though fate has ordained the destruction, Yudhishtira wants to do everything humanly possible to avert the destruction. He takes an oath that he shall not speak harsh words to any of his brothers or kings. He would live under the command of his relatives. He will make distinction between his children & others. He has avoid all disagreement, since that is the cause of war in this world. He will agree to others' wishes.
Later, Duryodhana, seething with jealousy at the wonders & riches of Indraprastha, disgregards Drithirashtra's & Vidura's advise & convinces his reluctant father to invite Yudhishtira for a game of dice. His uncle, Shakuni, calls Yudhishtira a gambling addict who can't refuse an invitation. Drithirashtra & Vidura foresee that this game is going to cause issues but he issues the order anyway.
When Vidura extends the invite, Yudhishtira expresses his reluctance to play, cites gamblers as deceitful, and agrees to play to fulfill Drithirashtra's wishes as a son. Before the game, Yudhishtira again explains the sins of gambling. He also warns against using deceit in the game. Does this sound like a gambling addict? Shakuni insists. Later, Duryodhana says that Shakuni will play on his behalf. Yudhishtira again says that this is against established norms and says that he will play if they insist. He was in essence following his oath taken after the Rajasuya Yagna.
Shakuni starts the game & keeps winning without a single chance given to Yudhishtira. After several victories, Vidura advises an end to the game & warns of eventual war & complete destruction. Duryodhana insists on continuing. After winning all the wealth & kingdom, Shakuni continues to play. Here, Yudhishtira first bets Nakula & Sahadeva, while elaborating their virtues. Shakuni caustically comments that he bet Madri's sons first. Upon Yudhishtira's rebuke, he apologizes.
He then bets Arjuna & Bhima, again extolling their virtues & finally himself. After he himself is lost, Shakuni asks Yudhishtira (now his slave), to bet Draupadi, which he does, extolling all her virtues.
Duryodhana now wishes to insult Draupadi & is rebuked by Vidura. He ignores him & sends a servant, Pratikamin to summon Draupadi. Pratikamin says that Yudhishtira lost himself in gambling & bet her. Draupadi asks him, if he was intoxicated & bet her before others. Hearing an answer in the negative, Draupadi sends him back asking who was lost first, Yudhishtira or Draupadi herself. This event happens a second time. Then, Dusshashana is sent, who drags her to court by her hair.
A furious Bhima accuses Yudhishtira of being an inveterate gambler & wants to burn his hands, but is rebuked by Arjuna, who points out that he was forced to play against his will. This looks like the origin of the charge. None of the other brothers ever rebuke Yudhishtira about the gambling game.
Later, in a subsequent game of dice, the Pandavas are exiled. In the forest, Yudhishtira, seeing the travails of Draupadi, laments about being addicted to dice. Sometimes, we may play to the public perception or the other person's perception of ourselves even though we know that it is wrong. It appears that Yudhishtira is doing that here to soothe Draupadi.
Why did the Kauravas not invite the Pandavas to another game of dice after the exile? During exile, Yudhishtira gains skill in the game of dice from a great sage in the Kamakya forest. Without this skill, the Kauravas would probably have invited him again to another game of dice. He uses his skill in dice to live in disguise as Kanka in the last year of exile. However, before joining the court, he again tells the king that he doesn't like gambling but will play for the king's pleasure. When harassed by Kichaka, Draupadi complains to Bhima about Yudhishtira & his addiction to dice. It looks like Draupadi was using Bhima's perception to convince him to kill Kichaka.
This is the fascinating origin of the sources of the charge of Yudhishtira being an inveterate gambler. What is your interpretation?
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