These are my reading notes for Part B of The Mahabharata the story I chose to focus on in this section was The Gambling Match.
Plot Notes:
- When Duryodhana saw the Pandavas' triumph, his heart grew jealous and angry. He was envious of everyone and he knew he could not overcome the Pandavas in a fight, so he plotted with his friends to defeat them another way.
- Shakuni, the prince of Gandhara, was known for his skills as a gambler. He always seemed to win because he played with loaded dice. Duryodhana plotted with him, hoping to defeat the Pandavas.
-Shakuni told him that Yudishthira loves the dice, but he does not know how to play. He advised Duryodhana to invite them to plat, because there is nobody who can gamble like Shakuni, he will put them to shame.
- Duryodhana was excited about this proposal and went before his blind father, the Maharajah, and asked him to invite the Pandavas to Hastinapura to gamble, even though the royal counsellors advised him not to do this.
- Vidura feared trouble, and yet was sent to Idraprastha to invite them to gamble.
- When Yudhishthira heard the invitation he was filled with dread. He knew that gambling was often a sinister game. Besides, he did not want to play Prince Shakuni, who was apparently a desparate and terrible gambler. He could, however, not refuse the invitation of Dhritarashtra.
- The next day, Yudhishthira and his people went together to the game, which was held in a beautiful pavilion that was covered in gold and crystals. This was a special place- all the princes and warriors of the kingdom gathered there.
-Prince Shakuni was there with his false dice.
- Once the people settled and the game was set to begin, Yudhishthira said that he cannot withdraw because he has been challenged. He's not afraid to fight or play with any man, but he wants the stakes to be equal.
- Duryodhana spoke, saying that he will provide jewels and gold and crystals of great value, but his unlce (Shakuni), will be the one to throw dice.
- Yudhishthira mentioned that it is a weird way to play, but he agrees to it.
- He sat down to throw dice with him.
- Yihishthira lost on the first throw, and on each throw after. He gambled away all of his money and jewels and everything valuable he owned. He played on, however, and continued to lose everything. Eventually, he lost the kingdom of the Pandavas. He still did not stop playing, even though everyone told him to stop.
- He even bet himself and lost, becoming a slave to Shakuni.
- Duryodhana rose and spoke unto Vidura, telling her to come clean with the rest of the slave women.
- Vidura was angry from hearing this and told him that his words are wicked. He cannot tell a royal lady to become a slave. Besides, she is not a slave because Yudhisthira put himself before her and did not stake her freedom. Duryodhana has no power to take her.
- Duryodhana cursed Vidura and told one of his servants to bring Draupadi before him.
Writing notes/ suggestions:
- I think it would be cool to put this in a modern setting (Las Vegas???)
- It would be cool to make this a two part story with the story that comes directly after this one, its overall a good moral tale that could be retold many ways.
Plot Notes:
- When Duryodhana saw the Pandavas' triumph, his heart grew jealous and angry. He was envious of everyone and he knew he could not overcome the Pandavas in a fight, so he plotted with his friends to defeat them another way.
- Shakuni, the prince of Gandhara, was known for his skills as a gambler. He always seemed to win because he played with loaded dice. Duryodhana plotted with him, hoping to defeat the Pandavas.
-Shakuni told him that Yudishthira loves the dice, but he does not know how to play. He advised Duryodhana to invite them to plat, because there is nobody who can gamble like Shakuni, he will put them to shame.
- Duryodhana was excited about this proposal and went before his blind father, the Maharajah, and asked him to invite the Pandavas to Hastinapura to gamble, even though the royal counsellors advised him not to do this.
- Vidura feared trouble, and yet was sent to Idraprastha to invite them to gamble.
- When Yudhishthira heard the invitation he was filled with dread. He knew that gambling was often a sinister game. Besides, he did not want to play Prince Shakuni, who was apparently a desparate and terrible gambler. He could, however, not refuse the invitation of Dhritarashtra.
- The next day, Yudhishthira and his people went together to the game, which was held in a beautiful pavilion that was covered in gold and crystals. This was a special place- all the princes and warriors of the kingdom gathered there.
-Prince Shakuni was there with his false dice.
- Once the people settled and the game was set to begin, Yudhishthira said that he cannot withdraw because he has been challenged. He's not afraid to fight or play with any man, but he wants the stakes to be equal.
- Duryodhana spoke, saying that he will provide jewels and gold and crystals of great value, but his unlce (Shakuni), will be the one to throw dice.
- Yudhishthira mentioned that it is a weird way to play, but he agrees to it.
- He sat down to throw dice with him.
- Yihishthira lost on the first throw, and on each throw after. He gambled away all of his money and jewels and everything valuable he owned. He played on, however, and continued to lose everything. Eventually, he lost the kingdom of the Pandavas. He still did not stop playing, even though everyone told him to stop.
- He even bet himself and lost, becoming a slave to Shakuni.
- Duryodhana rose and spoke unto Vidura, telling her to come clean with the rest of the slave women.
- Vidura was angry from hearing this and told him that his words are wicked. He cannot tell a royal lady to become a slave. Besides, she is not a slave because Yudhisthira put himself before her and did not stake her freedom. Duryodhana has no power to take her.
- Duryodhana cursed Vidura and told one of his servants to bring Draupadi before him.
Writing notes/ suggestions:
- I think it would be cool to put this in a modern setting (Las Vegas???)
- It would be cool to make this a two part story with the story that comes directly after this one, its overall a good moral tale that could be retold many ways.
This image, titled "The Gambler" comes from "hehaden" on Flickr.
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