Compulsive gambling in ancient Indian texts

Abstract

Byline: Ajit. Bhide The psychiatric diagnostic systems took cognizance of the syndrome of compulsive gambling as a pathological condition somewhat recently.[sup] [1],[2] Ancient Indian texts have references to the devastation that the habit of gambling can bring into one's personal, family and social life. The two outstanding examples of such references are in the Mahaabhaarata[sup] [3],[4] and the Rig Veda,[sup] [5] the former in narrative and the latter as an ode to the dice that are personified. Yudhishthira's Fatal Flaw The second section of the Mahaabhaarata, the Sabha Parva, has the eldest of the heroic Paandava brothers, the otherwise virtuous Yudhisthira display a fatal flaw. The Paandavas had built a magnificent capital for themselves at Indraprastha and within it a grand palace and at its inauguration had invited their cousins the Kauravas. The eldest Kaurava, Duryodhana, first was smitten by extremely jealousy at the achievement of the Paandavas. This was aggravated by his observation of how charitable the Paandavas were being in sharing their glory and wellbeing. Further he felt humiliated when he was beguiled into some clumsiness in the hall of illusions within the palace, whereupon many including the younger Paandavas did not conceal their amusement at Duryodhana's blustering. Burning with rage and envy he opened up to his uncle Shakuni, the prince of Gaandhaara. The scheming mind of Shakuni came up with a plan for Duryodhana to settle scores with the Paandavas. The plan was to invite the Paandavas to the Kaurava capital of Hastinapura, ostensibly to partake their hospitality as a returned favor and then to lure Yudhishthira, known for his love of the dice, into a game against the Kaurava princes. Despite wiser counsel from persons like the Chief Minister and uncle of both the sets of the princes, Vidura, against such an evil scheme, the plan was carried out; not only were the Paandavas invited but so were many other monarchs and princes, many famed for their love of leisure and gambling. The main event of course was between the Paandavas and their host cousins. Yudhishthira refrained from agreeing to play, enunciating the evils that gambling is fraught with and the misery it brings in its wake. He was however tricked into taking up the challenge when Shakuni hinted that the eldest Paandava was scared to play a more skilled player; and when the game began, the wily and adept Shakuni played on behalf of his nephew, Duryodhana. One by one Yudhisthira put at stake prized jewels ornaments from his treasury, his brocades, vestments, his mineral and precious metal savings; then his livestock, horses, his armies, slaves, servants and courtesans, then his lands, his capital, his cherished palace and the crafty Shakuni with the roll of the dice kept winning them all. Protests from Vidura to Duryodhana's father, the ruling king Dhritarashtra had no effect but to evoke Duryodhana's wrath. Desperate to win, Yudhishthira gambled away each of his four younger brothers and finally himself. The deceitful Shakuni finally suggested he put at stake his spirited and beautiful wife Draupadi and Yudhisthira fell for the ploy. Bereft of all his possessions and even his younger brothers and spouse, Yudhishthira was shorn of his pride as well for his great virtues stood him in no stead in the face of one fatal flaw: the irresistible enticement of the dice. After the pledged Draupadi was put through unprecedented humiliation before the full assembly, Dhritarashtra was woken to the cruel reality of his son's evil doings right before his eyes. He returned to Yudhishthira all that he had lost in the gambling, attempted to console Draupadi burning with rage at her shame and sent back the Paandavas to their city with honor. It was not long before an enraged Duryodhana forced another wager on the Paandavas. When Yudhisthira lost again to Shakuni, the Paandavas and Draupadi as terms of the wager went into perilous exile for twelve years. …