02.MISERIES OF WELL KNOWN GAMBLER YUDHISTHIR

MISERIES OF WELL KNOWN GAMBLER YUDHISTHIR
All such activities such as playing with dice, chess.playing cards which cause one to gain or lose constitute gambling.Those sports or activities or plays which involve betting with money, property- moveble or immovable .constitute gambling.

(Gambling is the worst offence; it destroys purity of mind; it is the abode of deceit and the store house of theft and untruth. It must be abandoned). The story of Yudhisthir Once upon a time,Hastinapur was a beautiful capital of the state Kuru Jangala; it was ruled by king Dhrita who was a w ise politician. He had three queens; Amba, Ambalika and Ambika. Three queens, respectively gave- birth to Dhritarashtra. Pandu and .Vidur.Dhritara^jtra was married 53 GAMBLING 54 with Gandhari and Pandu with Kunti and Madri. Vidur remained as a life long bachelor. Dhritarashtra had hundred sons, Duryodhan and others who were called “Kavuravas”. Younger brother Pandu had five sons Yudhistir, Bhima and Arjun from his wife Kunti and Nakul and Sahadev from Madri who were called Pandavas. There was one more son of Kunti called Kama, who was born before her marriage.

Maharaja Dhrita ruled his kingdom for a long period, quite uninterruptedly along with his sons and grand sons. Once, during autumn, he saw a beautiful palace formed by various clouds gathered in the sky. He wanted to make a painting of that beautiful palace; but the moment he started painting, a breeze blew and the palace of clouds disappeared in no time. The king was taken aback as well as wonder struck. This was sufficient to make him to realise the worthlessness of world and all wordly things due to their transitory nature; he resolved to renounce the world and to become a Digamber Muni in order to attain salvation and be completely free. The king Dhrita soon made his eldest son hritarashtra to be his successor and younger son Pandu as “Yuvaraja” and thereafter got himself initiated as Digamber Muni. He attained perfect knowledge ‘‘Keval Gnam’ after a hard and difficult penance performed for long time and ultimately became a liberated soul. Vidur also became a digambar Muni and visited many places.

One day, Dhritrashtra and Pandu came across a lotus flower inwhich a dead black bee was found; this created a strong urge and determination in them for renunciation. They decided to renounce the world ;before that they divided their kingdom in two equal parts and gave one to Kouravas and the other to Pandavas; they took diksha and became Diagamber Munis and performed hard and difficult penance. It is well said that nothing is greater than time and he who is mindful of it is constantly dynamic.

After some time Kouravas developed ill will against Pandavas. The maternal uncle of Kouravas named Shakuni played an important role in creating and tormenting this ill will just as one tree caught with fire is enough to burn the whole forest; in the same manner one evil family member destroys the whole family. Shakuni day in and day out hammered on the minds of Kouravas that partition of the kingdom in two equal parts has done great injustice to Kouravas; “ how can the shares of one hundred be equated with those of five?"Sakuni asked. Even a fool shall not commit such blunder. He repeatedly used to denounce his nephews, the Kouravas, for having accepted this partition and said that Pandavas were twenty times better and more prosperous than Kouravas. All this enraged Kouravas and they determined to eliminate Pandavas by all means. Kouravas got a palace built of a material called lac, a kind of wax, that was extremely combustible . They invited all the Pandavas along with their mother to participate in the inauguration ceremony of that beautiful palace. After the inauguration ceremonies were over the night halt of Pandavas was arranged in that very combustible palace. Unaware of Kourava's evil designs, Pandavas along with their mother slept in the palace as usual without any suspecion. At about mid-night fire broke out in the palace. The Pandavas wokeup in utter confusion and found the palace started melting and falling upon them. None of them knew the exit passage to escape. Hence Pandavas felt much perturbed. Amongst Pandavas, Sahadev was an excellent astrologer. With the help of astrology, he came to know that there was a opening in the palace at some specific point meant for exit; but that opening was covered by a big rock. Bhima. who was mighty, hearing this, reached the spot, removed the rock and thereby helped his brothers and mother to escape from the melting palace and thus their lives were saved.

After this incident, Pandavas went on tour of some distant places. One day they reached a village called Makandi. This village formed part of the territory of King Drupada, who had a nice and lovely daughter named Droupadi. When the princess attained the age of puberty and became marriagable, King Drupad thought of her “Swayamvar" and elaborate arrangements were made to that effect. Kings and Princes were cordially invited to grace the occasion and participate in the swayamvar. All of them gathered in the swayamvar hall on the appointed date. Fortunately or unfortunately, Pandavas also reached there. But they disguised themselves so as to keep Kouravas unaware of their identity and their whereabouts.

The “Swayamvar” function started on the appointed date and time as per schedule. In the great assembly of Kings and Princes an announcement was made to the effect that Dropadi would be married to a person who succeeds in piercing the “Radha Veda” - a revolviving device near the ceiling by an arrow. Soon after many Kings and Princes came forward one after the other and made futile attempts and none succeeded. Then came Arjuna in disguise and succeeded in piercing “Radha veda” very easily. King Drupad and his lovely daughter Dropadi were overjoyed to see this great achievement and strength of Arjuna. Dropadi immediately ran towards Arjun and quickly put the garland around his neck; just at that moment, unfortunately heavy wind blew over that place which tore the garland ;it caused some of the flowers from the garland to fall on the brothers of Arjun who were standing nearby. The jelousy kings assembled there, were very much annoyed at this. They condemned Dropadi and charged her that she had put the garland on all Pandavas.

They alleged that Dropadi was corrupt as she had wedded all the five;they called her as “the wife 6f five” (“Pancha-bharta”); further they scolded her that she had insulted all of them by wedding the beggars ie. Pandavas who were in the guise of ordinary persons; they threw a challenge to Arjun to either hand over Dropadi to them or face war. Consequently, Arjun reached the battle field and a fierce battle erupted. Arjun was the master of the science and art of archery. His arrows made many powerful kings frightened and confused. Finally they were defeated and their arm ies fled away. Seeing this. Duryodhan reached the battle ground alongwith his great grand father Bhishma.

When Arjuna saw Bhishma in that situation, he was little perplexed. He thought that he would have to oppose Bhishma- his teacher in war and his own army might suffer great losses ; otherwise if he remained in disguise before Bhishma it would also be improper incase if he suddenly appeared in real form. He decided therefore to write his name and address on one arrow and threw that arrow so as to fall infront of Bhishma. After reading the name of Arjuna on the arrow. Bhishma told about everything and Duryodhan felt much ashamed for his guilt. Soon after, Duryodhan got down from his chariot, sheding croco- dile tears, came to Pandavas in an apologetic manner though it was all false.Pandavas already knew the truth, yet they embraced him gentlemanly. The kings and chieftains who participated in the war, saw this and they were happier. Later Dropadi was duly married with Arjun. After this episode Kouravas and Pandavas were at peace for some time. But this was not what Sakuni wished to happen.. Hence he continued to design a plot against Pandavas and poisoned the minds of Kouravas against them. After a lapse of some time, Yudhisthir developed a liking for gambling. This was very unfortunate, as he was thereby himself inviting his ruin. Soon he became fond of it. It has been correctly said that the sin prior to its arrival infatuates the sinner and makes him incapable of discriminating between right and wrong. One day, Kouravas and Pandavas started gambling with dice. The dices thrown by Duryodhan. fell allways wrongly, because ofthe roaringof Bhim .bringing loss in the game. In order to get rid of Bhim. he told Bhim that he was extremely thirsty and his thirst can be quenched by him alone by way of entering into Ganges river upto the knee or thigh and collect in drops. (■‘Svagayatadita uchchahattita" - drops of water).

The pure and simple hearted Bhima readily agreed to do this, as he did not realise the evil design of Duryodhan. He left the place imme- diately to bring water. This trick of Duryodhan paid heavy dividends. Yudhisthir started loosing and his opponent Duryodhan started gaining. This process continued for long. Yudhisthir lost all the chariots, elephants, horses, palaces and similar other properties belonging to him. He also put Dropadi on bet and lost her. The game ended when Yudhisthir found nothing to offer as bet. Just at that time Bhima arrived on the spot with the water for Duryodhan. The sight of sorrowful sullen faces of his dejected brothers made him shocked. He in a hurry gave the water pitchers to Duryodhan which he refused to take, passing the remark that he was no more feeling thirsty.

Immediately thereafter Duryodhan started rediculing and jeering against Yudhisthir. He taunted and pointing to Yudhisthir declared that the whole kingdom belonged to him and he was the supreme lord and the sovereign thereof. Pandavas had lost all their rights and they should therefore leave the state treating it as other’s residence. “Those who stay in others house become dependents. Dependence even in dream is painful and he who actually comes under the dependance of others, undergoes untold sufferings”; Yudhisthir was thinking in this manner. Duryodhan continued his sarcastic comments which were unberable by the Pandavas. Such ridicules forced Yudhisthir to leave the place immediately; when Dropadi saw Yudhisthir leaving the place she also followed him. Duryodhan noticed it and ordered to prevent her from leaving the place accopanied by her husband Arjuna; then the cruel minded Duryodhan caught hold of her saree and shouted “are you not aware Dropadi ? Yudhisthir has lost you also in gambling!! Where are you going now? Remember, Yudhisthir and his brothers have no right overyou. It is upto me to decide your future and I will do it soon’‘.Thus Duryodhan tried to pull out Dropadi’s saree and denude her. At that moment a celestial being- a protector of the Rule of Jinas got his attention drawn towards the plight of Dropadi who was a lady of rightconduct, and good character; he immediately rushed to the spot and prevented the condemnable and shameful act of Duryodhan by continuously elongating the saree. This process continued for hours together. Duryodhan in spite all his might utterly failed to strip Dropadi; the Councillors assembled there were wonder struck to see this miracle. The saree of Dropadi had become so long that there were so many heaps of it.. People in the assembly hall w ere greatly ashtonished. They could not tolerate the great insult and cruel treatment done to Dropadi by Duryodhan;all of them condemned and rebuked Duryodhan for that hateful act and freed her from his clutches. After this incident, the Pandavas decided to go to the forest and reside there.

Oh! Bhavyas! Think of the plight of Pandavas who were once governing their kingdom with great pomp and show in royal palaces, sleeping on cosy beds now walk bare footed on the gravelly forest land full of pebbles and stones; they undergo the sufferings of rough weather -scorching heat as well as biting cold and the scarcity of food and water.

Hence, Oh Brothers! learn the lesson from this episode of historic importance and give up gambling forever. In gambling, it starts as a hobby but after some time it assumes the form of an evil habit - “Vyasan" and leads human beings to disaster and ruin. Do not think ofgambling even in dream; because it is the dwelling place ofthe snakes of calamites . It destroys the fair name of good conduct.; it destroys *‘Dharma”; it leads the gambler to the hell, and is the nursery of all evils. It is the root of the tree of insults and it is the river of calamities. It destroys fair intellect. Hence, you should always oppose gambling and abandon it straight way.

Gambling is the origin of all mischiefs. It ruins one's contentment;promotes deceitful conduct; invites untruth and theft to come and join hands. It should be given up out right because gambling causes excessive indulgence in the vices of violence, false speaking, theft, greed and deceit etc. Just as prostituation, adultery and hunting destroy or deform the nature and character of a mundane soul and makes it go astray similarly one who is habituted to gambling gets himself entrapped in all sorts of calamities.

Maxims / Aphorisms
1. Gambling is the head of all evil habits and the enemy no. 1 of humanity.

2. Gambling is not a trade or business; it is a dangerous poison; it makes one idle, mentally degenerate and blind with intoxication.

3. Gambling not only causes the degradation or the downfall of soul but also it creates resorts of dangerous malpractices, relating to family, society and the nation.

4. Gambling makes a man characterless and poor.

5. Gambling straightway ruined many great and prosperous families.

6. The storm of gambling caused great rationalists, truthful men and moralists to go astray and leave right path.

7. Gambling causes one to indulge in falsespeaking, stealing and commiting the most heinous crimes.

8. The earnings by gambling howsoever large it can not be saved.

9. Not only the earningsr»f gambling are lost by gamblers; the wealth acquired otherwise is also lost along with it.

10. Gambling is the burning spark of anxiety that burns the gamblers to ashes day-in and day- out.

11. Is there any one who becomes rich and prosperous due to gambing? Can you point out any one who has been respectable and prosperous or gloriousas a result of gambling?

12. Gamblers are not respected in the society or nation.

13. Gamblers are neither relied upon nor honoured by the society. On the contrary they are much disrespected and hated.

14. Thegambhler bets not only money or gold and silver alone,but also bets his clothes and wife even.

15. Gamblers loiter here and there and are not competent to earn atleast their bare livelihood.

16. Gambling causes spiritual downfall.

17. Gambling is the greatest blot on humanity.

18. The effects of gambling are extremely dangerous.

19. Pandavas had to lose their kingdom on account of gambling.

20. If one tries to see the sorry plight of gamblers he will find out that their condition is very miserable and they are always worried. (Gambling is an evil habit) There is no surer path that leads to poverty than gambling which causes so much misery and ruins one ’s reputation. - Acharya Kunthakuntha - Thirukkural 934