In the wake of Indraprastha’s rise to glory and the successful completion of the Rajasuya Yagna, the Pandavas’ fortunes seemed to be at their peak. Their city rivaled the abodes of the gods, and Yudhishthira’s status as a paramount king was acknowledged across Bharatavarsha. However, this rapid ascent to power and prosperity did not go unnoticed by their cousins, the Kauravas.

Duryodhana’s Plotting

Consumed by jealousy, Duryodhana sought counsel from his uncle Shakuni, known for his cunning and mastery of the dice. “Uncle,” Duryodhana lamented, “I cannot bear to see the Pandavas prosper while we languish in their shadow. We must find a way to bring about their downfall.”

Shakuni, ever ready to exploit his nephew’s weaknesses, saw an opportunity to manipulate the situation to his advantage. With a sly smile, he proposed, “My dear nephew, I have a plan that will strip the Pandavas of their wealth, kingdom, and dignity. We shall invite them to a game of dice.”

Duryodhana’s eyes lit up with malicious glee. “A game of dice? How will that bring about their ruin?”

Shakuni explained his devious plan: “Yudhishthira, for all his wisdom, has one weakness – he cannot resist a challenge to his honor. We will invite him to a friendly game of dice, but it will be anything but friendly. With my expertise in manipulating the dice, we will ensure that Yudhishthira loses everything.”

The Invitation

With Shakuni’s plan in mind, Duryodhana approached his father, the blind King Dhritarashtra, to seek permission to host a grand gathering and game of dice. Despite his reservations, Dhritarashtra, weak-willed and easily swayed by his son’s desires, agreed to the proposal.

An invitation was sent to Indraprastha, inviting the Pandavas to Hastinapura for a grand celebration. When the message arrived, Yudhishthira was initially hesitant. He turned to his brothers and wife, Draupadi, seeking their counsel.

Bhima, the second Pandava, known for his strength and quick temper, voiced his suspicions. “Brother, this invitation reeks of treachery. We should decline and prepare for any potential conflict.”

Draupadi, wise and perceptive, urged caution. “My lord, I fear this invitation holds hidden dangers. The Kauravas have never shown us true friendship. We must tread carefully if we decide to accept.”

Despite the warnings and his own misgivings, Yudhishthira felt bound by his duty as a kshatriya (warrior) and the codes of honor. “We cannot refuse such an invitation without just cause,” he declared. “We shall go to Hastinapura and participate in the celebrations. However, we must remain alert and prepared for any eventuality.”

Arrival in Hastinapura

The Pandavas, along with Draupadi, arrived in Hastinapura amidst great fanfare. They were welcomed with apparent warmth and hospitality, but beneath the surface, tensions simmered. Duryodhana’s eyes gleamed with barely concealed malice as he greeted his cousins, while Shakuni wore a mask of congenial friendliness.

As the celebrations progressed, Yudhishthira found himself drawn into conversations about the game of dice. Shakuni, playing his part to perfection, casually mentioned his own skills at the game and suggested a friendly match. “It would be an honor to play against the wise Yudhishthira,” Shakuni said, his words dripping with false admiration.

Yudhishthira, was initially reluctant, but he also enjoyed games of chance, and felt compelled by honor to accept the challenge. “A friendly game would indeed be a fitting way to conclude our gathering,” he agreed, unaware of the trap he was walking into.

The Game Begins

The assembly hall was prepared for the grand game. The golden dice gleamed ominously in the lamplight as Yudhishthira and Shakuni took their seats. The atmosphere was tense, with the Kauravas barely able to contain their excitement, while the Pandavas felt a growing sense of unease.

As the game commenced, it quickly became apparent that this was no ordinary match. Shakuni, true to his reputation, displayed an uncanny ability to control the dice. With each throw, the odds seemed to bend in his favor. Yudhishthira, bound by his honor and the rules of the game, found himself on a losing streak.

The stakes began to rise. What started as a friendly game soon turned into a high-stakes gamble. Yudhishthira, driven by a combination of duty, pride, and an inexplicable compulsion, continued to play despite his mounting losses.

First, he wagered and lost his wealth – precious gems, gold, and treasures from Indraprastha. Then came the territories, villages, and finally the entire kingdom of Indraprastha itself. With each loss, Duryodhana’s satisfaction grew, while the other Pandavas watched in horror.

Bhima, unable to contain his anger, shouted, “Brother, stop this madness! Can’t you see this game is rigged?”

But Yudhishthira, as if in a trance, replied, “I have given my word to play. I cannot back down now. The die is cast, and I must see it through.”

A Final Wager

As Yudhishthira lost his kingdom and all material possessions, Shakuni, with a cruel glint in his eye, goaded him further. “Great king, you have lost everything of material value. But do you have the courage to wager something more… personal?”

In a moment of complete abandonment of reason, Yudhishthira wagered his brothers. One by one, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva were lost to Shakuni’s manipulated dice. The assembly watched in stunned silence as the great Pandava princes were reduced to mere possessions of the Kauravas.

But the horror was not yet complete. In a final, unthinkable move, Yudhishthira staked Draupadi herself. The assembly gasped in shock. Even some of the Kauravas, including the elderly Bhishma and the teacher Drona, looked uncomfortable at this turn of events.

With a roll of the dice, Draupadi too was lost. Duryodhana’s face contorted with malicious glee as he declared, “Bring the serving maid Draupadi to the court!”

Draupadi’s Humiliation

Draupadi, unaware of the tragic circumstances, was summoned to the court. When informed that she had been staked and lost in the game of dice, she was incredulous. “How can a man who has lost himself stake his wife? This is against all dharma (righteousness)!” she protested.

Her words fell on deaf ears. Duryodhana, drunk on his victory, ordered his brother Dushasana to bring Draupadi by force. Dushasana dragged Draupadi by her hair into the assembly, her cries of protest echoing through the hall.

In a voice trembling with rage and anguish, Draupadi addressed the assembly: “Is there no justice in this court? Will the elders and wise men sit silently while a woman is treated thus?”

Her impassioned plea moved some, but fear of Duryodhana kept them silent. It was then that Duryodhana, in an act of ultimate degradation, ordered Dushasana to disrobe Draupadi in front of the entire assembly.

As Dushasana began to pull at Draupadi’s garment, she prayed fervently to Lord Krishna for protection. In that moment of dire need, a miracle occurred. As Dushasana pulled at her sari, it seemed to extend endlessly. No matter how much he unwrapped, there was always more cloth. Eventually, exhausted and humiliated, Dushasana gave up.

A Second Game

Bhima, his eyes blazing with fury, took a terrible vow: “I swear that I will break the thighs of Duryodhana and drink the blood of Dushasana. Let all the gods be witness to my oath!”

The elder statesman Vidura, who had been watching the proceedings with growing alarm, finally spoke up. He admonished Dhritarashtra for allowing such adharma (unrighteousness) to take place in his court. “O King,” he said, “this day marks the beginning of the end of the Kuru dynasty. By allowing this injustice, you have sown the seeds of a great war.”

His words seemed to shake Dhritarashtra out of his stupor. Fearing the consequences of his son’s actions, he attempted to make amends. He declared the game null and void and returned to the Pandavas everything they had lost.

However, the damage was done. The humiliation suffered by Draupadi and the Pandavas could not be erased. As they prepared to return to Indraprastha, Duryodhana, unable to accept this reversal, challenged Yudhishthira to one final game. The stakes were extreme: the losing side would go into exile for thirteen years, with the last year to be spent in complete anonymity.

Once again, driven by his sense of duty and honor, Yudhishthira accepted. And once again, manipulated by Shakuni’s loaded dice, he lost.

Exile and Anger

As the Pandavas prepared for their exile, the mood in Hastinapura was mixed. While Duryodhana and his close allies celebrated their victory, many others felt a deep sense of shame and foreboding. Bhishma, the grand patriarch, warned, “This day’s events will not be forgotten or forgiven. You have won a game, Duryodhana, but you may have lost a kingdom.”

Before departing, Yudhishthira addressed the court: “We will honor our word and go into exile. But remember, O Kauravas, that we will return. And when we do, we will reclaim what is rightfully ours.”

As they left for the forest, each of the Pandavas and Draupadi carried with them the scars of this day. Yudhishthira was consumed by guilt for his weakness and the suffering he had brought upon his family. Bhima’s anger smoldered, fueled by the vow he had taken. Arjuna silently vowed to hone his skills to unparalleled levels. The twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, felt a deep sense of betrayal by those they had considered family. Draupadi, carried with her a burning desire for justice. Her humiliation would become a rallying cry, a constant reminder of why they must reclaim their lost honor and kingdom.