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him to a game； and win all his wealth and lands。
‘After this the wicked Duryodhana proposed to his father the
Maharaja； that they should have a great gambling match at
Hastinapur； and that Yudhishthira and his brethren should be
invited to the festival。 And the Maharaja was glad in his heart
that his sons should be friendly with the sons of his deceased
brother； Pandu； and he sent his younger brother； Vidura； to the
city of Indra…prastha to invite the Pandavas to the game。 And
Vidura went his way to the city of the Pandavas； and was received
by them with every sign of attention and respect。 And
Yudhishthira inquired whether his kinsfolk and friends at
Hastinapur were all well in health； and Vidura replied； 〃They
are all well。〃 Then Vidura said to the Pandavas：〃Your uncle；
the Maharaja； is about to give a great feast； and he has sent me
to invite you and your mother； and your joint wife； to come to
his city； and there will be a great match at dice…playing。〃
When Yudhishthira heard these words he was troubled in mind；
for he knew that gaming was a frequent cause of strife； and that
he was in no way skilful in throwing the dice； and he likewise
knew that Sakuni was dwelling at Hastinapur； and that he was a
famous gambler。 But Yudhishthira remembered that the invitation
of the Maharaja was equal to the command of a father； and that no
true Kshatriya could refuse a challenge either to war or play。
So Yudhishthira accepted the invitation； and gave commandment
that on the appointed day his brethren； and their mother； and
their joint wife should accompany him to the city of Hastinapur。
‘When the day arrived for the departure of the Pandavas they took
their mother Kunti； and their joint wife Draupadi； and journeyed
from Indra…prastha to the city of Hastinapur。 And when they
entered the city they first paid a visit of respect to the
Maharaja； and they found him sitting amongst his Chieftains； and
the ancient Bhishma； and the preceptor Drona； and Karna； who was
the friend of Duryodhana； and many others； were sitting there
also。
‘And when the Pandavas had done reverence to the Maharaja； and
respectfully saluted all present； they paid a visit to their
aunt Gandhari； and did her reverence likewise。
‘And after they had done this； their mother and joint wife
entered the presence of Gandhari； and respectfully saluted her；
and the wives of the Kauravas came in and were made known to
Kunti and Draupadi。 And the wives of the Kauravas were much
surprised when they beheld the beauty and fine raiment of
Draupadi； and they were very jealous of their kinswoman。 And
when all their visits had been paid； the Pandavas retired with
their wife and mother to the quarters which had been prepared for
them； and when it was evening they received the visits of all
their friends who were dwelling at Hastinapur。
‘Now； on the morrow the gambling match was to be played； so when
the morning had come； the Pandavas bathed and dressed； and left
Draupadi in the lodging which had been prepared for her； and went
their way to the palace。 And the Pandavas again paid their
respects to their uncle the Maharaja； and were then conducted to
the pavilion where the play was to be； and Duryodhana went with
them； together with all his brethren； and all the chieftains of
the royal house。 And when the assembly had all taken their
seats； Sakuni said to Yudhishthira：〃The ground here has all
been prepared； and the dice are all ready： Come now； I pray you；
and play a game。〃 But Yudhishthira was disinclined； and
replied：〃I will not play excepting upon fair terms； but if you
will pledge yourself to throw without artifice or deceit； I will
accept your challenge。〃 Sakuni said；〃If you are so fearful
of losing； you had better not play at all。〃 At these words
Yudhishthira was wroth； and replied：〃I have no fear either in
play or war； but let me know with whom I am to play； and who is
to pay me if I win。〃 So Duryodhana came forward and said：〃I
am the man with whom you are to play； and I shall lay any stakes
against your stakes； but my uncle Sakuni will throw the dice for
me。〃 Then Yudhishthira said；〃What manner of game is this；
where one man throws and another lays the stakes？〃 Nevertheless
he accepted the challenge； and he and Sakuni began to play。
‘At this point in the narrative it may be desirable to pause； and
endeavour to obtain a picture of the scene。 The so…called
pavilion was probably a temporary booth constructed of bamboos
and interlaced with basket…work； and very likely it was
decorated with flowers and leaves after the Hindoo fashion；
and hung with fruits； such as cocoa…nuts； mangoes； plantains； and
maize。 The Chieftains present seem to have sat upon the ground；
and watched the game。 The stakes may have been pieces of gold or
silver； or cattle； or lands； although； according to the legendary
account which follows； they included articles of a far more
extravagant and imaginative character。 With these passing
remarks； the tradition of the memorable game may be resumed as
follows：
‘So Yudhishthira and Sakuni sat down to play； and whatever
Yudhishthira laid as stakes； Duryodhana laid something of equal
value； but Yudhishthira lost every game。 He first lost a very
beautiful pearl； next a thousand bags； each containing a thousand
pieces of gold； next a piece of gold so pure that it was as soft
as wax； next a chariot set with jewels and hung all round with
golden bells； next a thousand war elephants with golden howdahs
set with diamonds； next a lakh of slaves all dressed in good
garments； next a lakh of beautiful slave girls； adorned from head
to foot with golden ornaments； next all the remainder of his
goods； next all his cattle； and then the whole of his Raj；
excepting only the lands which had been granted to the
Brahmans。＇17＇
＇17＇‘A lakh is a hundred thousand； and a crore is a hundred
lakhs； or ten millions。 The Hindoo term might therefore have
been converted into English numerals； only that it does not seem
certain that the bards meant precisely a hundred thousand slaves；
but only a very large number。 The exceptional clause in favour
of the Brahmans is very significant。 When the little settlement
at Indra…prastha had been swelled by the imagination of the later
bards into an extensive Raj； the thought may have entered the
minds of the Brahmanical compilers that in losing the Raj； the
Brahmans might have lost those free lands； known as inams or
jagheers； which are frequently granted by pious Rajas for the
subsistence of Brahmans。 Hence the insertion of the clause。'
‘Now when Yudhishthira had lost his Raj； the Chieftains present
in the pavilion were of opinion that he should cease to play； but
he would not listen to their words； but persisted in the game。
And he staked all the jewels belonging to his brothers； and he
lost them； and he staked his two younger brothers； one after the
other； and he