DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0321
THE GREAT GAMBLING MATCH 241
did stake his own freedom before he staked Draupadi.
Thou couldst not win aught from a slave who had no
power to stake the princess."
But Duryodhana cursed Vidura, and bade one of his
servants to bring Draupadi before him.
Said Vidura: "Duryodhana is this day deprived of
his reason. Dishonesty is one of the doors to hell. By
practising dishonesty Duryodhana will accomplish yet the
ruin of the Kauravas."
The beautiful Draupadi was sitting at peace within
the fair dwelling set apart for the Pandavas on the banks
of the Ganges; its walls and towers were mirrored on the
broad clear waters. Then suddenly, as a jackal enters
stealthily the den of a lion, the menial sent by Duryod-
hana entered the palace and stood before high-born
Draupadi.
Said this man: "O queen, the mighty son of Pandu
hath played and lost; he hath lost all, even his reason,
and he hath staked thee, and thou hast been won by
Duryodhana. And now Duryodhana bids me to say
that thou art become his-slave, and must obey him like
to other female slaves. So come thou with me, for thou
must henceforth engage in menial work."
Draupadi was astounded when he spake these words,
and in her anguish she cried: " Have I heard thee aright?
Hath my husband, the king, staked and lost me in his
madness? Did he stake and loose aught beside?"
Said the man: "Yudhishthira hath lost all his riches
and his kingdom; he staked his brethren and lost them
one by one; he staked himself and lost; and then he
staked thee, O queen, and lost also. Therefore, come
thou with me."
Draupadi rose in her pride and spoke angrily, saying:
lr my lord did stake himself and become a slave, he
101
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did stake his own freedom before he staked Draupadi.
Thou couldst not win aught from a slave who had no
power to stake the princess."
But Duryodhana cursed Vidura, and bade one of his
servants to bring Draupadi before him.
Said Vidura: "Duryodhana is this day deprived of
his reason. Dishonesty is one of the doors to hell. By
practising dishonesty Duryodhana will accomplish yet the
ruin of the Kauravas."
The beautiful Draupadi was sitting at peace within
the fair dwelling set apart for the Pandavas on the banks
of the Ganges; its walls and towers were mirrored on the
broad clear waters. Then suddenly, as a jackal enters
stealthily the den of a lion, the menial sent by Duryod-
hana entered the palace and stood before high-born
Draupadi.
Said this man: "O queen, the mighty son of Pandu
hath played and lost; he hath lost all, even his reason,
and he hath staked thee, and thou hast been won by
Duryodhana. And now Duryodhana bids me to say
that thou art become his-slave, and must obey him like
to other female slaves. So come thou with me, for thou
must henceforth engage in menial work."
Draupadi was astounded when he spake these words,
and in her anguish she cried: " Have I heard thee aright?
Hath my husband, the king, staked and lost me in his
madness? Did he stake and loose aught beside?"
Said the man: "Yudhishthira hath lost all his riches
and his kingdom; he staked his brethren and lost them
one by one; he staked himself and lost; and then he
staked thee, O queen, and lost also. Therefore, come
thou with me."
Draupadi rose in her pride and spoke angrily, saying:
lr my lord did stake himself and become a slave, he
101
(0 569) (9