MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global

DURYODHAN came back from the Imperial Sacrifice filled with jealousy against
Yudhishthir, and devised plans to effect his fall. Sakuni, prince of Gandhara, shared
Duryodhan's hatred towards the sons of Pandu, and helped him in his dark scheme.
Yudhishthir with all his piety and righteousness had one weakness, the love of gambling,
which was one of the besetting sins of the monarchs of the day. Sakuni was an expert at
false dice, and challenged Yudhishthir, and Yudhishthir held it a point of honour not to
decline such a challenge.
He came from his new capital, Indra-prastha, to Hastina-pura the capital of Duryodhan,
with his mother and brothers and Draupadi. And as Yudhishthir lost game after game, he
was stung with his losses, and with the recklessness of a gambler still went on with the
fatal game. His wealth and hoarded gold and jewels, his steeds, elephants and cars, his
slaves male and female, his empire and possessions, were all staked and lost!
The madness increased, and Yudhishthir staked his brothers, and then himself, and then
the fair Draupadi, and lost! And thus the Emperor of Indra-prastha and his family were
deprived of every possession on earth, and became the bond-slaves of Duryodhan. The
old king Dhrita-rashtra released them from actual slavery, but the five brothers retired to
forests as homeless exiles.
Portions of Section lxv. and the whole of Sections lxix., lxxvi., and lxxvii. of Book ii. of
the original text have been translated in this Book.
I
DRAUPADI IN THE COUNCIL HALL
Glassed on Ganga's limpid waters brightly shine Hastina's walls
Queen Draupadi duly honoured lives within the palace halls,
But as steals a lowly jackal in a lordly lion's den,
Base Duryodhan's humble menial came to proud Draupadi's ken.
Pardon, Empress," quoth the menial, "royal Pandu's righteous son,
Lost his game and lost his reason, Empress, thou art staked and won,
Prince Duryodhan claims thee, lady, and the victor bids me say,
Thou shalt serve him as his vassal, as his slave in palace stay!"
"Have I heard thee, menial, rightly?" questioned she in anguish keen,
"Doth a crownéd king and husband stake his wife and lose his queen,
Did my noble lord and monarch sense and reason lose at dice,
Other stake he did not wager, wedded wife to sacrifice!"