Q.- Explain the games in Mahabharata : “The Dicing” and “The Sequel to Dicing”.
Ans.-
The First Dicing (Game of Dice) :-
After the Rajasuya sacrifice, the Pandavas became very powerful and wealthy. This made Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, jealous and hateful. With the help of his maternal uncle Shakuni, who was a master in deceitful play, Duryodhana invited Yudhishthira to a game of dice in Hastinapura.
Yudhishthira, though unwilling, agreed because it was the duty of a Kshatriya to accept such challenges. But the dice used in the game were controlled by Shakuni, who cheated throughout.
As the game went on, Yudhishthira lost everything—first his wealth, then his kingdom, his brothers, and finally himself. In desperation, he even staked Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, and lost her too.
This led to the famous episode of Draupadi’s humiliation in the Kaurava court. She was dragged into the assembly and insulted, but she prayed to Lord Krishna, who saved her honor. The elders like Bhishma and Dhritarashtra failed to stop this injustice. Finally, King Dhritarashtra, fearing the wrath of fate, returned everything to the Pandavas and released them from slavery.
The Sequel of Dicing (Second Game of Dice):-
Though the Pandavas regained their kingdom, Duryodhana’s anger did not end. Again, with Shakuni’s trickery, a second game of dice was arranged.
In this game, Yudhishthira lost once more. According to the terms of the game, the Pandavas were forced into exile for 12 years, followed by one year of living in disguise (Agyatvas). If they were discovered during this year, the exile would repeat.
Thus, because of the second dicing, the Pandavas were sent to the forest. This period of hardship prepared the ground for the final conflict, the great war of Kurukshetra.
Conclusion : The games of dice are central episodes in the Mahabharata. They show how greed, jealousy, and deceit can destroy families and kingdoms. The first dicing led to Draupadi’s humiliation, while the second dicing forced the Pandavas into exile. Together, these games of chance became the seeds of the great war that followed.
About The Author
