Yudhishthira, A Failed Gambler | Mahabharata Paintings

February 19, 2022Pandian Ramaiah 2 Comments

Duryodhana was jealous about Pandava‘s wealth. In addition, he got humiliated when he fell down into water at the palace of Indraprastha. By mistake, he thought Draupadi mocked him with derision. He wanted to take revenge for this. Shakuni – his maternal uncle – consoled him. He ensured him that he can win Pandava-s with the Chinese policy of winning without firing a bullet.

Kunti’s son loves to gamble with dice, but does not know how to play. If challenged to play, that Indra among kings will not be able to refuse. I am skilled in gambling with dice, there is no one on earth, or in the three worlds, who is my equal. Challenge Kunti’s son to a game of dice. O king! O bull among men! With my skill in dice?! there is no doubt that I will win for you the kingdom and the blazing prosperity. O Duryodhana! Tell the king?? all this. And if your father permits, there is no doubt that I will vanquish him.
Shakuni to Duryodhana – The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Yudhishthira had been invited to play a game of dice, a gambling for fun! It was considered as a “virtual war”. Whatever lost is lost. Yudhishthira – so called dharma – practiced adharma (sin) here. He risked insignificant things at first, later he lost everything one by one. Explaining the way he lost his wealth is not the motive of this post.

We need to understand the situation of the gambler who lost what he risked. With single game, he wanted to set right everything, he failed miserably again. At one point of time, he risks his brothers, then himself, then his wife Draupadi in the game, even though Vidura advised him to stop the game.

I like the face of Yudhishthira in the above drawing!

When he lost wife, Duryodhana summoned Pandava‘s wife and the queen of honour, Draupadi. Draupadi was mensurating then. Her question was logical. She asked if he lost him first before he lost her. If he lost him first, did he had any rights over her? Unfortunately, none of Pandava-s and Kaurava-s were logical. Kaurava-s acted out of the their suppressed wrath and Pandava-s acted with utter foolishness.

Draupadi's humiliation — Draupadi’s humiliation. Image (c) Keshav

Logical questions of Draupadi irritated Duryodhana – ‘the new possessor’ of the lady, as agreed by the son of ‘dharma‘, Yudhishthira. He asked Dushasana to bring her to court. The young Kaurava broke all the rules of women’s court, trespassed there, pulled Draupadi’s hair as hard as he can. Draupadi resisted, but she was no match to him. She tried to make him understand that she is Panchala puthri (daughter of Panchala) and daughter-in-law of their house. It did not change his mind. It was an explosive situation, everybody was in its flow. She has been pulled, dragged in front of public and brought to court with improper attire.

Jeyamohan used to call it as ‘male-evil‘. It worked at its best. Duryodhana abused her to sit on his lap, as she is his slave, then. Kaurava-s told that slaves – Pandava-s and their wife – should not wear royal clothing. They made them undressed, including Draupadi. It was the greatest mistake to allow Dushasana to to disrobe Draupadi and challenged the modest of a woman, who was a queen, who was his own sister-in-law, who was a daughter in law of the greatest family of Bharatakhanda.

I do not believe the story of Krishna to issue the endless saree which made Dushasana to become tired. It was clean violation of modesty of woman in typical Indian way. Jeyamohan handled this piece in a more practical approach in his Mahabharata novel series, Venmurasu. It was Lakshmana – Duryodhana’s daughter – and other females of the royal family cover Draupadi with cloths by chanting the name of Krishna. ) I got into tears with much emotion when I read chapter 87 of Panniru Padaikalam novel of Venmurasu series.

The male evil will not stop its assault on female. We see that everyday. An innocent female get a rude husband and a soft male get an impudent wife. This seems to be naked truth.

I can point out several examples for such behavior from contemporary world as well.

A lady chief of a party was humiliated and disrobed in Tamilnadu assembly hall by the ministers of ruling party.
Lakbima – a popular Sinhalese daily printed vulger cartoon about a prime minister of India and a lady chief minister of Indian state
Acid was thrown at A lady IAS officer for being rough and tough by another political party in Tamilnadu

So, when a woman can not be won, a male will manhandle her habitually.

Except Bhima, every one in Kuru clan – including Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva kept quiet. Even after such grave incident, Yudhishthira accepted to gamble. We can understand how addicted he is. He lost it too. In turn he needs to live in exile for thirteen years. With deep distress in mind, hiding his face from his own people, the great adharmi Yudhishthira, left the city.

Abusing Duryodhana and Dushasana for disrobing Draupadi is not new. But do we have a soft corner for Yudhishthira to escape from this crime?

Did he ever realize his mistake?
Never. Even after this incident, he agreed to gamble. He lost that game also, in turn, entire Pandava-s were forced to live in exile for thirteen years.
Did he has any rights over Indraprastha on his own?
No. Although he is a king, he can not be a dictator. Kingdom is made of people. A gambler who risks his own people is not a good king. Calling himself as a dharma is inappropriate.
Did he build the city in his own money?
No. He is a beggar. The land belongs to his ancestors. Money to build the city came from Hastinapur, Panchala and Dwaraka. He did not give it back. Rather, he lost all of them to his addiction of gambling.
Did he discuss with Draupadi about gambling?
No.
Did he love Draupadi, at least?
IMHO, he is not a loveable man. He expressed himself as a pure opportunistic through out Mahabharata. He tried to find justifications from veda-s or smriti-s to cover up his selfish behavior. He is not skilled archer or wrestler or he did not excel in any martial arts. Draupadi was wife of Arjuna, by right. Yudhishthira shared among all by quoting so called Dharma.
He might have felt inferior because of these reasons. This might have forced him to take extreme decisions during gambling, to prove himself. Alas, he miserably failed.

Mahabharata text shows he used to praise Draupadi during different discussions. They look like a mode of public conduct – nothing else. I doubt if he loved his own wife Devika. No girl will love such a bored creature!
Did he respect advices of Vidura?
No. Remember – he is the reason for Pandava-s to return alive from the house of lac.
Did he understand the effort in building Indraprastha?
No.
- It took many rounds of negotiations to get a land from Hastinapur. Pandava-s could not get it. It was Krishna who lobbied for them.
- Khandavaprastha was a dense forest. Krishna and Arjuna put their effort in converting into a habitable land. They need to go on a war with Indra before doing it.
- If Yudhishthira put any effort to build it, he might have given a second thought, before risking it on gambling.
If Draupadi married Karna, would he gamble her like Yudhishthira?
- Krishna points out (during Pandava-s exile) that she too, reasonable for her own misery. As per his opinion, a great warrior like Karna will never gamble her away. But Draupadi rejected him during his Swayamvara on the basis of caste. Draupadi chose a priest in disguise over a charioteer. Unfortunately Arjuna, the priest in disguise, shared her among his brothers and gambled her. This is convincing for us.
Whom do we worship? Pandava-s or Yudhishthira?
- Draupadi is the goddess for our society.

It is not Dushasana to be blamed first, it is Yudhishthira, the gambler!

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Panniru padaikalam, Jeyamohan

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Indraprastha | Mahabharata Paintings

February 17, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

After Pandava-s married Draupadi, they could not hide any more. They exposed themselves to external world. They stayed in Panchala for sometime. Accompanied by Krishna, they reached Hastinapur.

Khandavaprastha became Indraprastha

They appeared before the blind king Dhritarashtra. He blessed him. The bilateral negotiations about the ownership of the throne was started. Krishna lobbied for Yudhishthira through Vidura. Vidura advised Dhritarashtra to give up this throne and return it to Yudhishthira.

Dhritarashtra refused as per the story. He admitted to Vidura that his sons may not work under Pandava-s. This sounds logical to me as a reader. After negotiations, Dhritarashtra accepted to give some land from Hastinapur dynasty. It is Khandavaprastha.

Khandava means forest. As named correctly, it is a dense forest, an abode of all creatures, situated in the banks of Yamuna. Krishna ordered Pandava-s to burn the forest completely. All creatures were destroyed including the naga-s (serpents). The affected Naga-s sought Indra’s help. Indra accepted to help. He came up with in the form of thunderstorm. Probably, a worst rain might have lashed. Arjuna formed a shelter of arrows, so that rain does not disturb the fire. Finally, the forest is destroyed, so are the animals and rakshasa-s , except the Asura architect Maya. Maya sought refuge. In turn, he constructed a beautiful city – INDRAPRASTHA – for Pandava-s.

Khandavaprastha on fire. Krishna and Arjuna fought with Indra — *Khandavaprastha* on fire. Krishna and Arjuna fought with Indra

The wealth of Yadava capital Dwaraka (on which I named my blog!!) poured into the construction of Indraprastha. Panchala and Hastinapur might offer their own share as well. Finally there comes a beautiful – may be luxurious – city. It had ports in Yamuna river. It became abode of new dwellers, who came in as Indraprastha picked up. It became a market hub under the rule of Pandava emperor Yudhishthira and empress Draupadi.

Krishna in Indraprastha. Image (c) art-ma

Pandava-s with Draupadi, Raja Ravi Varma — *Pandava*-s with Draupadi, Raja Ravi Varma

Duryodhana’s humiliation

Many kings were invited to Indraprastha for Yudhisthira’s Rajasuya yagna. Kaurava-s were invited too as they were cousins. As per the text, Duryodhana was jealous at the wealth of Pandava-s while gazing at the palace.

The evil eye of fate turned to this beautiful city. Duryodhana did many mistakes there as the building used illusion to deceive someone’s eyes. He fell down into a water by mistake. Servants laughed by themselves and on the instructions of the king. Pandava-s – except Yudhishthira – laughed at him, instead of helping him. The unbearable Duryodhana left that place with humiliation. His mind was full of grudge and wrath. He was jealous at the wealth of Pandava-s and the way they showcased their luxurious life there. Evil thoughts were seeded into the mind of Duryodhana.

‘O extender of the Kuru lineage! On seeing the happiness of the Parthas, the submission of the kings, the love the worlds had for them, from children onwards, and the supreme splendour of the great-souled Pandavas, Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhana turned pale. As he travelled, he thought intently about the sabha and the unrivalled prosperity of the intelligent Dharmaraja. Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhana was so inattentive, that he did not respond when Subala’s son repeatedly spoke to him. On seeing him so distracted, Shakuni responded, “O Duryodhana! Why are you travelling with all these sighs?”

‘குரு வழியில் வந்தவரே! பார்த்தர்களின் மகிழ்ச்சியையும், அரசர்களின் பணிவையும், குழந்தைகள் முதல் அனைத்து மன்னர்களும் அவர்கள் மீது கொண்டிருந்த அன்பையும், பேரான்மா கொண்ட பாண்டவர்களின் உன்னதப் புகழையும் கண்டு, திருதராஷ்டிரனின் மகன் துரியோதனன் வாடிப் போனான். அவன் செல்லும்போது செய்யும் போது, அந்த சபையைப் பற்றியும், அறிவார்ந்த அரசன் தருமனின் நிகரற்ற செழிப்பைப் பற்றியும் ஆழ்ந்து சிந்தித்தான். திருதராஷ்டிரனின் மகன் துரியோதனன் மிகவும் கவனக்குறைவாக இருந்தான், சுபலரின்வின் மகன் அவனிடம் பலமுறை பேசியும் அவன் பதிலளிக்கவில்லை. அவன் மிகவும் கவனம் வேறு பக்கம் இருப்பதைப் பார்த்த சகுனி, “ஓ துரியோதனா! ஏன் இத்தனை பெருமூச்சுகளுடன் நினைவுகளில் நீந்துகிறாய்?”
Vaisampayana to Janamejaya – The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy

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Kuru princes at Drona’s school | Mahabharata Paintings

February 11, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

Kaurava-s and Pandava-s were grown up in Hastinapur. They attained the age to start proper education and martial arts to increase their endurance.

Kripacharya

Kripa was grown up in Hastinapur. He was found by Shantanu from forest along with her sister Kripi. He became the first teacher for kuru princes.

Dronacharya, tutor with a revenge

Drona was the son of sage Bharatvaja. Drupada – the king of Panchala – was his classmate in gurukul erstwhile. Drona married Kripi. Both had a lovable son named Ashwatthama. They were in stark poverty. He could not even buy cow’s milk for his son. He met King Drupada to ask for a cow. He used his gurukul friendship as a valid justification for his obligation. But Drupada handled him as a King. He refused to give it in the name of friendship. He asked Drona to beg for donation. Humiliated Drona was full of wrath. He vowed to become as popular as Drupada.

Drona at Drupada's court, Amar Chitra Katha — Drona at Drupada’s court, Amar Chitra Katha

O Brahmana! Your wisdom is lacking and inferior, if you suddenly begin to address me as your friend. O one with a dull mind! No great king can ever be a friend with men like you. You have no prosperity, nor do you have riches. Time decays everything, including friendship.

பிராமணனே! திடீரென்று என்னை உன் நண்பன் என்று சொல்லும் அளவிற்கு உனது அறிவு குறைவாகவும் தாழ்வாகவும் போய்விட்டது. மந்தமான மனம் கொண்டவனே! உன்னைப் போன்ற மனிதர்களுடன் எந்தப் பெரிய அரசனும் நண்பனாக இருக்க முடியாது. உனக்கு செழிப்பு இல்லை, செல்வமும் இல்லை. நட்பு உட்பட அனைத்தையும் காலம் காலாவதி ஆக்குகிறது.
Vaisampayana to Janamejaya, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

He left the Panchala palace. He mastered archery from Parashurama at the condition of not helping kshatriya-s using his skillset. After leaving Parashurama-s gurukul, he forget about the promise. He entered into Hastinapur, the abode of Kshatriya-s.

The entry of Drona into Hastinapur is an heroic scene. The kuru princess were playing near a well. Their ball fell down into the well. Drona used reed grass as arrow. He throw the first piece of arrow, which hit the ball. The second one punched the tail part of previous arrow. Thus he made a string of grass, using which he took the ball out of the well. The boys were excited. They told Bhishma about Drona’s skillset.

Drona helps to take the ball out of well

Bhishma and Kripa made Drona as the royal tutor. Drona accepted with one condition. The kuru princes should capture Panchala King Drupada alive. Lending hands come. An aid comes with a condition in Hastinapur’s history. Hastinapur signed in that contract also! Grudges and revenges were not new to this empire. Drona became the tutor!

Arjuna, the obedient

All Kuru princes were trained by Drona and Kripa. But Arjuna excelled in archery. One day he rescued Drona from a crocodile. Drona swore to mold him a great archer who would be extolled by Bharata land.

Indian system expects unquestionable obedience to mata (mother), pita (father), guru (teacher) and deivam (God). Arjuna became the primary disciple of Drona. The acharya thought he deserved an unquestionable crown for him in archery because of his focus and hard work.

O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Drona heard the twang of his bowstring and came to him and embraced him. He said, “I promise you that I will do my utmost to ensure that you are the best archer in this world and there is no one equal to you.”

பரத பரம்பரையில் வந்தவனே! துரோணர் அவனது வில்லின் சத்தத்தைக் கேட்டு அவனருகே வந்து அவனைத் தழுவினார். அவர் கூறினார், “நீ இந்த உலகில் சிறந்த வில்லாளியாக இருக்க என்னால் முடிந்த அனைத்தையும் செய்வேன் என்று நான் உறுதியளிக்கிறேன். உனக்கு நிகராக யாரும் இல்லை.”
Vaisampayana to Janamejaya, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Ekalavya, the devoted

Ekalavya’s story was another stain in the tale of Acharya Drona. He was from Nishada tribe. Drona’s fame reached the forests of Nishada. Ekalavya commuted such a long distance and approached Drona to learn archery. Drona – as perceived by Jeyamohan’s Venmurasu, the Tamil version of Mahabharata – felt he would be be against Hastinapur’s wishes one day. He neglected him. He mentioned Ekalavya that if he has faith in Drona, he can teach himself.

Poor Ekalavya took it seriously and learnt Drona’s techniques from distance. Purana-s say, he learnt it with a telepathy kind of technique by keeping avahanam (likeness) of Drona . But I took it practical sense. He might have stalked him.

Ekalavya practice before the likeness of Drona, Wikipedia

They asked him, “Who are you and whose son are you?” Ekalavya replied, “Know me to be the son of Hiranyadhanu, the king of the nishadas. I am Drona’s student and I am trying to become skilled in Dhanur Veda.”

அவர்கள் அவனிடம், “நீ யார், யாருடைய மகன்?” என்று கேட்டார்கள். அதற்கு ஏகலவ்யன், “என்னை நிஷாத மன்னன் ஹிரண்யதனுசின் மகன் என்று அறிந்து கொள். நான் துரோணரின் மாணவன், தனுர் வேதத்தில் தேர்ச்சி பெற முயற்சிக்கிறேன்.” என்று பதிலளித்தான்.
Vaisampayana to Janamejaya, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

One fine day Drona learned about the skill of Ekalavya. Arjuna jealously appealed to him for making Ekalavya as a great Archer, which was against his promise.

Drona met Ekalavya and asked about his teacher. Ekalavya pointed at Drona himself and explained the way he learnt. Drona does not want a competition of his loveable shishya, Arjuna. He asked for guru-dakshina (payment). It is a custom in Indian gurukul (schooling). Ekalavya agreed to give him whatever he asked. Drona asked for his thumb finger of his right hand. Undoubtedly Drona conspired here. Ekalavya did not utter a word. He cut his finger immediately and paid his guru-dakshina,

Ekalavya's Guru dakshina, Wikipedia — Ekalavya’s Guru dakshina, Wikipedia

Drona’s decision was not only political but also caste-based. He strongly felt that nishada-s tribal is not well qualified to learn archery. But the punishment given by Drona made Arjuna to feel relaxed at the same time it was too brutal for him.

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Vannakadal (colourful sea), Jeyamohan

This blog post is a part of Blogchatter’s WRITE A PAGE A DAY campaign.