Krishna’s views about gambling
During the game of dice in which the Pandavas lost everything, Bhagavan was not in Dwaraka. When he later came to know of it and arrived, he told Yudhishthira:
If I had been here, I wouldn’t have let that game happen. I would’ve personally made Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, and Vidura understand the dangers of dice and stopped it.
Everyone knows the story of Nala, right? He too lost everything because of dice. The destruction that dice brings is beyond imagination. There are four great dangers: lust, gambling, alcohol, and obsession with hunting. Among these, gambling is the worst. A person can lose everything in a single day because of it.
Bhagavan says, Even if my advice was ignored, I would’ve used force to stop that game.
Why did kings of old marry so many women?
Take Dasharatha — he had 350 wives.
Back then, wars were common. Thousands of commanders were needed to lead large armies. If they were of Kshatriya blood, that was a big advantage. That’s why Kshatriya men were allowed to marry not just Kshatriya women but also women from Vaishya and Shudra varnas. The goal was producing offspring, not pleasure.
But once marriage becomes about personal enjoyment instead of dharma, it brings downfall.
Same with hunting. Originally, it was Rajadharma — protecting citizens by eliminating wild animals that posed threats. But when it becomes a craving, when animals are killed for no reason, it leads to destruction.
On battlefields, warriors were given drinks to boost courage — this was called veerapana. But when drinking turns into addiction, that too destroys lives.
Kings were allowed to play dice because it gave them a practical understanding — that no matter how skilled or powerful you are, some things are beyond control. That life can change in an instant. But the moment it becomes about winning, about enjoying someone else’s downfall — that’s where danger begins.
English
Mahabharatam
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