74. Duryodhana Visits Indraprastha

After Arjuna returned, the Pandavas organized a grand coronation ceremony for Yudhishthira and invited the royal families from neighboring kingdoms as their guests. Their cousin Duryodhana was one of those guests.

Seeing the splendid palace of Indraprastha, built by the magic of the divine Mayasura, Duryodhana raged with jealousy.

Mistaking a shimmering marble floor for a pool, he tucked up his garment to stay dry. The Pandavas laughed.

Next, Duryodhana got drenched falling into a pool that he thought was a floor, and the Pandavas laughed even louder. “He sees no better than his father,” Draupadi joked.

Duryodhana vowed revenge.

75. Shishupala Insults Krishna

From among the many illustrious guests at Yudhishthira’s coronation, the Pandavas chose Krishna as guest-of-honor.

This enraged Shishupala, King of Chedi. “Krishna isn’t even a king! He deserves only contempt, not honor!”

Shishupala went on insulting Krishna, who was his cousin, and Krishna bore his insults patiently, having promised Shishupala’s mother long ago that he would accept one hundred insults from her son without complaint.

After the hundredth insult, Krishna said, “Be warned, Shishupala. One more insult, and you will die.”

But Shishupala would not stop. “Peasant! Coward! Thief!” he shouted.

Krishna let loose his Sudarshana-Chakra and severed Shishupala’s head.

76. King Yudhishthira Makes a Vow

Vyasa left his forest ashram to visit his grandsons. “I have seen alarming omens,” he told the Pandavas. “The next thirteen years are filled with danger, and your actions will lead to terrible consequences. All the kshatriyas might perish. Your fate will be their doom, King Yudhishthira.”

Yudhishthira then took a vow. “For the next thirteen years, I will speak no harsh word to anyone. Harsh words lead to conflict; with soft words, I will create no discord. By this vow I seek to avert my fate.”

Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura, where he plotted revenge with his uncle Shakuni.

77. Duryodhana Plots with Shakuni

King Dhritarashtra had a lavish new palace built for Duryodhana, hoping to calm his jealousy of Yudhishthira’s palace, but to no avail. Duryodhana was still determined to get revenge.

Rebuffed by his father, Duryodhana plotted with Shakuni, his mother’s brother. “I want the Pandavas to lose everything!” Duryodhana snarled. “What do you advise?”

“You cannot wage war against them,” Shakuni replied, “but you could challenge Yudhishthira to a game of dice. Royal honor will require him to accept your invitation, but he has absolutely no skill at dice. I will compete for you against him, and I will surely win.”

78. Duryodhana Extends an Invitation

Duryodhana sent Vidura to Indraprastha as his messenger, and Yudhishthira received his uncle happily; Vidura had always been a friend to them.

“What news from Hastinapura?” Yudhishthira asked.

“King Dhritarashtra has built a new palace to rival your palace here,” said Vidura. “And your cousin Duryodhana invites you there for a game of dice.”

Before Yudhishthira could reply, Bhima shouted, “It’s a trick.”

Draupadi added, “I do not think we should go, husband.”

“But Duryodhana knows I cannot refuse,” Yudhishthira said, hesitantly. “You may tell our cousin that we accept his invitation.”

Vidura then returned to Hastinapura, full of foreboding.

79. The Pandavas Enter the Gambling Hall

When the Pandavas arrived at Hastinapura, King Dhritarashtra greeted them warmly, ushering them into the new palace, while Draupadi went to the women’s quarters to greet Queen Kunti and the other royal ladies.

“I cannot see the splendor myself,” said Dhritarashtra, “but everyone tells me the palace is exceedingly beautiful. Tell me what you think, Yudhishthira!”

“It is indeed very beautiful,” said Yudhishthira.

Then Yudhishthira saw Duryodhana, accompanied by his uncle Shakuni.

“Are you ready for our little gambling match?” Duryodhana asked, smiling. “Shakuni is going to play in my stead.”

Hiding his surprise, Yudhishthira replied calmly, “I am ready.”

80. The Game Begins

Yudhishthira faced Shakuni, who played for his nephew, Duryodhana.

Then the game began.

First, they bet a few pearls. Shakuni won.

Then a golden chariot. “I have won!” said Shakuni.

Elephants and armies. “I have won!” said Shakuni.

Enormous herds of cattle. “I have won!” said Shakuni.

The wealth of entire kingdoms. “I have won!” said Shakuni.

Vidura begged King Dhritarashtra to stop the match, but the king did nothing.

Yudhishthira staked his brothers one by one. He lost.

Yudhishthira staked himself. He lost.

Yudhishthira staked his wife Draupadi. He lost.

Yudhishthira had nothing left. Shakuni had won it all.

81. Duryodhana Summons Draupadi

Shakuni’s success in the gambling match thrilled Duryodhana. He had taken everything from his cousin Yudhishthira.

Everything.

“Bring Draupadi here!” he commanded his brother Dushasana. “She is my slave now, a queen no longer.”

But when Dushasana told Draupadi what had happened, she refused to come. “Ask Duryodhana whether my husband had lost himself already when he staked me,” she said angrily. “If he had lost himself, he could not stake me afterwards.”

When Dushasana returned to the assembly hall and repeated Draupadi’s words, Duryodhana howled in rage. “She is my slave!” he shouted. “Bring her here now. No excuses!”

82. Dushasana Brings Draupadi into the Assembly

Dushasana returned to fetch Draupadi. “You are Duryodhana’s slave!” he shouted. “Come with me!”

“But I have my period,” Draupadi tried to explain. “I’m barely dressed. I can’t go out like this.”

“Silence, slave!” Dushasana commanded.

Grabbing Draupadi by the hair, he dragged her before the assembly.

Everyone stared in shock, but said nothing.

“Husbands, you must help me!” Draupadi moaned. “Mothers, fathers! Uncles and grandfathers! Do you say nothing? Is there no justice in this assembly?”

“This whore has quite a tongue,” Shakuni joked, and Duryodhana laughed, while Yudhishthira and his brothers wept silently, bowing their heads in shame.

83. Duryodhana Seeks to Disrobe Draupadi

“Strip off your clothes, slaves!” Duryodhana commanded. “Now!”

The Pandavas stripped until they stood in only their loincloths.

“You too, whore!” Duryodhana ordered Draupadi. “Strip!”

At a nod from Duryodhana, Dushasana reached for Draupadi’s sari and began to pull, but Draupadi closed her eyes and prayed. “Lord Vishnu, save me,” she murmured. “Save me, God! Save me!”

Dushasana pulled off her sari, but there was another sari underneath, and another, an unending stream of cloth. Dushasana pulled and pulled until he became so entangled in the heap of cloth that he could pull no more.

God had heard Draupadi’s prayer.

84. Bhima Makes a Vow

Despite the miracle, Duryodhana continued to taunt Draupadi, baring his thigh. “Come, slave! Sit on your master’s thigh.”

Bhima shouted, “I’ll smash your thigh someday, Duryodhana! As for you, Dushasana: I’ll rip you open and drink your blood!”

“My hair will stay unbound,” Draupadi vowed, “until I wash it in Dushasana’s blood.”

“Death to you all!” Bhima added. “Death to Duryodhana and his ninety-nine brothers!”

As Bhima spoke, the dice-board burst into flames.

Vidura could stay silent no longer. “Draupadi has God’s protection. You all saw it. Brother, you must do something,” he said to Dhritarashtra, “before it’s too late!”

85. King Dhritarashtra Grants Draupadi a Boon

“Enough!” shouted King Dhritarashtra, intervening at last. Then he turned his blind eyes towards Draupadi. “You have been steadfast throughout this ordeal. Make a request, and I will grant it.”

Draupadi replied immediately. “Free Yudhishthira from slavery!”

“Done!” agreed Dhritarashtra. “Make another request.”

“Free Yudhishthira’s brothers,” Draupadi said.

“Done! You may make a third request.”

“That is all,” Draupadi said. “I ask for nothing more.”

“Then I restore everything!” proclaimed Dhritarashtra. “Wealth, kingdoms, power, everything you lost is yours again. Return to your home in peace.”

So Draupadi and her husbands mounted their chariots and began the journey to Indraprastha.

86. Duryodhana Demands a Rematch

“Summon Yudhishthira to play another game,” Duryodhana shouted at his father. “Quickly, before they gather their armies and attack us.”

“My own nephews… attack us?” Dhritarashtra exclaimed. “It’s unthinkable!”

“Jackals howled the night you were born, my son,” moaned Gandhari, “an omen that you would bring destruction upon us. Now I realize the prophecies were true. Calm your rage, I beg you.”

But Duryodhana refused to listen to his mother and father. “Send a messenger on the swiftest horse,” he commanded. “Bring Yudhishthira back here for another game of dice. With Shakuni’s help I’ll finish him once and for all.”

87. Yudhishthira Gambles Again

Duryodhana’s messenger overtook the Pandavas. “Duryodhana challenges you again!” he said. “The losers will be exiled into the wilderness for twelve years, followed by one year in disguise. If they are discovered in that year, another thirteen years of exile will follow.”

Again, Yudhishthira’s sense of royal duty meant he could not refuse the challenge.

Again, Shakuni won.

The Pandavas had to go into exile.

“Let Kunti stay here with us,” Vidura said, and the Pandavas tearfully bid their mother farewell.

As they left Hastinapura, the Kauravas mocked their cousins, but the people pitied the princes and their noble wife.