Vedic Wisdom Talks

  We all are responsible!   As the servant returned once again to assembly & relayed Draupadi’s question to elders about following moral path, everyone remained silent, with their heads lowered in shame. They knew very well Duryodhana’s determination & were afraid to contradict him   Yudhisthira then ordered a trusted messenger: Go quickly & tell Draupadi that she should come before assembly & with tears in her eyes make an appeal to Dhritrāshtra herself. At this time other Pāndavās couldn’t decide what to do, overwhelmed with grief & duty bound to follow their elder brother   Duryodhana’s servant could not bear to approach Draupadi again & seeing this derided him for being a coward & commanded Dushasana to bring her by force. Dushasana received this order with great delight & after coming before Draupadi said: You’ve been won by Kauravas & so now you must appear before the assembly   Because she was in her menstrual period, Draupadi was dressed in a

  How we stoop so low?   Yudhisthira was Dharmaraj’s son & was very virtuous person, still he gambled his own wife Draupadi in the gambling match. This shows that even the most virtuous person could get caught in the frenzy of gambling. So much so that his intelligence couldn't discriminate the extent to which he lost control on himself. The gambling fever catches the person & deranges him   When he was invited, Yudhisthira was very hesitant to take part in gambling as he felt that it would lead to conflict with his cousins and would ultimately lead to war. In fact, Vidura warned him of the catastrophic consequences and left to his wise judgement to either participate or reject the invitation. However, he was goaded to play & the fever caught him to play more & more   As he was playing Yudhisthira was thinking that he had lost so much, he lost all his wealth, weapons, kingdom etc & thought to win it back at each further bet. He was expecting to win all back &

  Courage! As Yudhisthira put Draupadi at stake & lost her, Duryodhana ordered Vidura-Bring Draupadi so that she can begin working as our maid Vidura said: Wretch! Don’t you know that speaking such harsh words you’re binding yourself with strong ropes & placing yourself over a precipice? You, like a deer is provoking angry tigers. In my opinion Draupadi hasn’t become your slave. The King had already lost himself & so he is not in position to wager Draupadi or anything else. Having lost himself, he is no longer his own master   Duryodhana, no one should utter harsh words that pierces heart of another, & one shouldn't conquer his enemies by playing dice or any such foul means. One should never utter words that're against Vedic injunctions, annoys others & lead to hell. Don’t take wealth of Pāndavās & thus make them your enemies The sons of Pāndu never utter such harsh words. Only persons who’re low like dogs employ harsh speech. Your cruel words are most a

  Ignorance! When Sakuni taunted Yudhisthira after he lost himself in the gambling match despite having Draupadi to bet first, Yudhisthira said-I shall now stake princess of Pāncāla, who is like Laxmi herself & who possesses all virtues. Forgoing all pleasures, she is the first to rise up from bed in the morning & the last to retire at night. Having a compassionate nature & being sweet in speech, having curly bluish hair with eyes like lotus petals, she’s perfect wife. Making Draupadi the bet, I shall now continue to play   At this, a great wave of agitation passed through the assembly as everyone condemned Yudhisthira. Bhisma, Drona & Krpā were covered with perspiration & Vidura held his head between his hands like a deranged man. Dhritrāshtra was quite pleased. Being unable to conceal his feelings, he asked again & again: Has the bet been won?   Karna & Duhsāsana laughed with great relish while tears flowed from the eyes of all others in the assembly. Saku