Mb028. The Game Of Dice Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Mb028. The Game Of Dice



MAHABHARATA

"The hall of games new,
The best one in our view,
It has come up in Hastinapura,
Like the one in Indraprastha."

"The king has invited you all
To play dice-game in that hall
For a get together party jolly,
To make you feel homely."

"The dice-game will ruin,
Many kingdoms have fallen,
I did my best to oppose it,
The king commanded me but."

"To attend or not, you decide,
I'm here just as your guide.
Soon there to take you all
Straight to the game hall."

With these words Vidura,
He placed before Yudhishthira,
The invitation of Dhritarashtra
To the game at Hastinapura.

Gambling was a pastime,
Not considered as a crime.
It was a Royal avocation.
Yudhishthira was no exception.

It was Kshatriya's tradition,
To honor an invitation,
To play a game of dice,
Minding it not as a vice.

Veda Vyasa's warning prior
It was ringing in his ear.
So he didn't like to be offensive,
But took a role more defensive.

"With me who's to play?
Before we start, please say."
Yudhishthira asked them
At the start of the game.

"The dice my uncle will cast
The stakes I'll find till last, "
So replied prince Duryodhana,
To the surprise of Yudhishthira.

"One plays for the other.
It's not the custom proper."
Yudhishthira raised this
But Sakuni took it amiss.

"An excuse now what you say,
Not to start the game play, "
Retorted Sakuni at once,
Having lost his patience.

Yudhishthira under pressure,
As a goodwill measure,
Yielded to his suggestion,
Raising no further objection.

The hall was fully crowded,
All the elders were seated,
Drona, Kripa, Bhisma,
Vidura and Dhritarashtra.

Stakes were gold, jewels,
Silver, chariots, horses,
Then all the servants,
Besides all the elephants.

Yudhishthira lost one by one.
Everything Uncle Sakuni won.
He lost cows, sheep, and cities
Besides villages and citizens.

Himself he pledged then,
And brothers one by one.
Last but not the least
His wife Draupadi next.

To pledge nothing was left,
He lost what all he kept.
Happy was Duryodhana.
Shouted with joy Karna.

Draupadi was sent for
To sweep the floor
Their houses to clean,
His erstwhile queen.

"When Yudhishthira himself he lost,
Stake on Draupadi how can he cast?
It makes no sense to pledge her, "
Said Vidura in utter despair.

Duryodhana ordered "Go and bring her, "
To Prathikami, his charioteer,
Saying "Vidura is jealous of us,
And supports always Pandavas."

Seeing this scene some wept.
Closed eyes the elders kept.
Some stood up and walked out.
Out of pity some gave a shout.

Havoc on the virtuous side,
Undue gain on the evil side,
What a role played the destiny?
Is it fate's tyranny or irony?

Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Topic(s) of this poem: story
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Dr Dillip K Swain 27 December 2017

A great write Epic when expressed in any form soothes our souls with a precious message

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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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