Intro
Dyuta Parva is the story of the gambling match with dice.
All the chapters in this parva are available -
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/dyuta
As It Rhymes
1.
Draupadi said,
“I still have my work.
But to be done like this hurt.
Dragged by that strong jerk.
2.
I am not superior to you Kurus.
What cause is there for this distress?”
3.
Vaishampayana said,
By those words Draupadi wept in her shredded dress.
Draupadi muttered penance.
Draupadi expressed misery to the Sabha audience.
Draupadi fell in her husbands’ shamed presence.
4.
Draupadi said,
“The kings here were present at my svayamvara arena as witness.
I was not seen again by these men before the Sabha’s mad strip tease.
5.
Not even the wind has seen me naked.
Now the Sabha’s mad adventure exposed my skin.
6.
O’ Kuru! Your dynasty will be dust in the wind.
O’ Kuru! Your evil nature brings ruin.
7.
O’ Kuru! Your time wears thin.
Your female body inspection leaves your daughter and daughter-in-law shaken.
8.
What misers are the chiefs of the world to rob kin.
The intoxicated Sabha men discard moral duty like a snake shedding its skin.
9.
Today your eyes took in and your ears heard an upright woman spurned seeking perdition.
Kauravas shatter and scatter the ashes of scorched tradition.
10.
Tell how the Pandavas’ wife and Parshata’s kin deserve this evil turn?
You dragged Vasudeva’s friend without concern.
Soon I should burn.
11.
Tell me am I a servant of your royalty?
If so, I’ll do my duty with loyalty.
12.
Is Kaurava fame to be built on my turn as a slave?
I would not have believed this misery could be mine.
13.
I call on all brave Kings to opine.
Am I won or am I not won on dice?
On your say so I’ll stay or go.”
14.
Bhishma said,
“It is said Dharma’s best path is on another’s behalf.
No one in this world knows victory for certain.
15.
Dharma’s force is present for every person.
Dharma’s line changes in time for every person.
Dharma exacts an exact price.
Dharma enacts every act.
16.
On account of discretion I dodge your question.
On account of subtlety I can say nothing certain.
17.
You are right the Kuru dynasty is not for long.
Inclined to greed and illusion we’ve done worlds of wrong.
18.
Demonic vice have become a Kuru birthright.
Our religious principles have fallen without a fight.
19-20.
In times of darkness you desire light, Panchali.
Drona and the other aged men that understand Dharma sit silent like their bodies died and say no more.
21.
It is my view that Yudhishthira is the voice to settle the score.
To say whether you are won or not won by dice is his chore.
To answer your ask is Yudhishthira’s task.
Notes
[1] Draupadi is the wife of the Pandavas - Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Nakula.
Draupadi is the daughter of King Drupada.
Duhshasana dragged Draupadi.
[3] Vaishampayana ibid
Sabha is a holy meeting place for kings to meet and politic, like a temple crossed with a house of assembly.
[4] Svayamvara is an event for warrior women to choose warrior husbands. Draupadi is pointing out that at her Svayamvara she chose Arjuna. The kings in attendance witnessed this choice.
To change the svayamvara on a dice game is an adharmic proposition.
The story of Draupadi’s svayamvara is told here.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/svayamvara
[6] The Kurus are the dynasty - including Pandavas.
[10] Sati is the controversial practice of a widowed woman entering a fire upon her husband's death.
Draupadi mentions of Sati in verses 8 and 10.
Vasudeva is Krishna, the eight incarnation of Vishnu.
[14] Bhishma is a Kaurava. Bhishma is (sort-of) brother to Dhritarashtra and Pandu.
Bhishma was born by Shantanu and the Ganges.
When Shantanu remarried a woman named Satyavati, Bhishma agreed to give up his claim on the throne.
However, a sage named Dvaipayana fathered Satyavati's children Dhritarashtra and Pandu when Shantanu proved impotent.
[15] Dharma means religious duty, or moral activity.
[20] Panchali is Draupadi.
Drona is the preceptor to the Kaurava warriors.
Drona has a rivalry with Draupadi's father Drupada.
Translation Collage
References
- Debroy, Bibek. The Mahabharata. Penguin Random House India, 2015.
- Dutt, M.N. The Mahabharata. Sanskrit Text with English Translation. Parimal Publications, 2022.