Justice in the Hands of Torture - Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

give a fitting and final answer. So she said:"It is not that King Yudhishthira, the Pandava elder, wanted to playdice of his own volition and willingness. On the other hand, withthe definite intention of making him helpless and weak, he wassomehow teased and challenged to play. How can the defeat imposedupon him by a host of adversaries be just and valid?"“I want to know how, according to what code of law or procedure,can the further play of the King, who was already defeated and hadbecome a slave, thereby losing all independence and power, pledginganother be proper and valid? What dharma is it which can upholdsuch an act? If with his defeat first, I, his property, too wasmade a slave, why was he, already defeated, made to stake meagain? What was the need and meaning of that step? What is thecode of propriety in it? Say this.""If his defeat and loss imply my defeat and slavery as well, if theadversaries had concluded to this effect, would they have made theKing play once again with a view to enslave and gain me separately?The fact that they did make Yudhishthira play once more, inspite of his being already enslaved, one point is quite clear and conclusive,namely my husband's defeat was not considered as my defeatby the opponents!""Why should I part with the independence and right: which theopponents themselves have in their own minds considered and upheldfor me? So, I say that one who has already lost himself andhence become a slave has sought to pledge me, who am independentstill. How can such a pledge be valid and effective? There are anumber of Kurus who have daughters and daughters-in-law. Theyhave listened to all that I have said. Also they have seen with their11