Adept at playing dice, Sakuni looked upon it as a trusted soldier who had never let him down. A sleight of hand, he thought, always enabled a skilled player to manoeuvre every move to his advantage. So when he found his nephew, Duryodhana, deep in depression after his return from Indraprastha, he decided to pull him out of his blues. But when Duryodhana threatened to launch an attack on Indraprastha to average his humiliation, Sakuni advised him not to be so foolhardy as to risk a war against the Pandavas.
‘Spilling of blood,’ he said, ‘is utterly futile when human ingenuity can yield much better results.’
‘I surmise, dear uncle,’ said Duryodhana, ‘that you have something on your mind. Why don’t you come out with it?’
‘Indeed,’ responded Sakuni, ‘you will never find me napping. I’m always up and about, looking for chinks in other people’s armour.’ He paused, probing Duryodhana’s face. ‘In Yudhishthira’s case, the chink is his compulsive urge for gambling. Remember that there is no such thing as absolute dharma which cannot be adulterated with a pinch of human frailty. So let us get him to our battlefield – the dice cloth, where I will be your commander-in-chief. I wish Drona, your guru, had offered training to his disciples in the art of playing dice as well.’
‘You are a genius, uncle,’ Duryodhana said.
‘Well, it was written in my horoscope that I would come into your life to steer you through every crisis,’ Sakuni said. Then, letting out a peal of laughter, he added, ‘You see, I am also a believer of sorts. My Narayana is the six in a game of dice and it has never forsaken me.’
It was now Duryodhana’s turn to break into laughter.
Sakuni then laid out all the details of his plan. Both he and Radheya should approach King Dhritarashtra and talk him into inviting Yudhishthira to a ‘friendly’ game of dice. ‘But remember, that blind people have a highly developed sixth sense. He should, therefore, be discreetly kept off the scent. The emphasis should be on generating love and friendship between the two wings of the Kuru family, through a game of dice, which is a favourite pastime of many a Kshatriya. Yudhishthira would certainly fall for it, gullible that he is. It would be like tempting an unwary bird into a snare with just a handful of grains.’
Duryodhana’s face brightened up.
‘You will be my guru hereafter, not Drona,’ he said, smiling. ‘But let me also consult Radheya about this plan. I’m sure he’d like it immensely.’
But when Duryodhana talked to Radheya about it, he rubbished the idea straightaway.
‘I don’t see why we should stoop to such a fraudulent operation which is most unbecoming of a Kshatriya like you. As for myself, I would always opt for an open war with the Pandavas, especially when we have on our side such stalwarts as Bheeshma, Drona and Asvatthama. I’m, of course, at your service any time, anywhere.’
But since Duryodhana had already made up his mind, he brushed aside Radheya’s disapproval. He had resolved to dispossess Yudhishthira of everything by any means, fair or foul.
‘I must try this strategy,’ insisted Duryodhana.
‘In that case, I will be with you because, as your friend, it is not for me to question your decision. But I will stay silent while you sort it out with the king.’
When Duryodhana and Sakuni approached Dhritarashtra with their proposal, he did not approve of it readily. Duryodhana then told his father that since his return from Indraprastha, he had been in very low spirits. So he thought that the game of dice might offer him a diversion.
‘But why should you get into depression, my child?’ said the king. ‘As the Crown prince of Hastinapur, you don’t lack anything. Power, glory and wealth lie at your feet – and the support of such well-wishers as Bheeshma, Drona and Kripacharya.’
‘But I did not feel very happy in Indraprastha, seeing Yudhishthira lording over other kings, who now seek his friendship with gifts of gems and gold.’
‘There you go again, consumed with jealousy,’ said the king. ‘Look, you should now try to win over your cousins as your friends.’
‘All the more reason, therefore,’ Duryodhana said, ‘for me to have a friendly game of dice with them. If I win, I will retrieve my honour, and whatever else comes with it. Of course, it is destiny that would decide who would win or lose.’
Dhritarashtra understood that his son was very eager to play dice with Yudhishthira. Being an indulgent father, he gave in.
‘But let me also consult Vidura, who is infallible in his judgement,’ said Dhritarashtra. ‘After all, he is my chief counsellor.’
Duryodhana balked at his father’s suggestion.
‘Why bring Vidura into it, father, especially when he has never been well disposed towards me? He may be your counsellor, but his heart lies elsewhere. Both Drona and he would be too happy to see Yudhishthira take over Hastinapur.’
‘You are a victim of your suspicion, dear child.’ Dhritarashtra tried to console him. ‘In any case, I must talk to Vidura as well.’
Vidura was highly disturbed to hear about the game of dice to be played between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira. He could immediately fathom Sakuni’s real motivation. From the day Sakuni had arrived in Hastinapur, Vidura had a hunch that he was up to no good.
‘O King, I’m committed to giving you my frank advice, however unpalatable it may sound. I wish to say at the very outset that I consider the dice a monster that has swallowed many an innocent player. It always generates enmity, hatred and revenge among players. Even the winner often ends up a loser in one sense or another. All great sages, like Asita and Devala, have denounced this game as evil. I imagine each black dot on an ivory dice as an evil eye that portends only catastrophe. It acts only as a harbinger of ill tidings. So I beseech you, O King, not to let this happen.’ He paused. ‘As regards Sakuni, your brother-in-law, I should be wary of his designs… Now it is up to you to decide.’
Vidura’s words set the king thinking. But blinded by parental love, he decided to let Duryodhana play the game.
‘Yes, I have listened to you patiently, O Vidura. You have indeed done your duty. But as the king of Hastinapur, I must have the final word. So go to Yudhishthira and convey him my invitation to come here and play a game of dice with Duryodhana. Of course, I expect you to be as tactful as possible. Tell the Pandavas that I love them as dearly as my own sons. Also, that they will be welcomed here with honour and respect, for aren’t they children of my late brother, Pandu?’
Vidura realized that Dhritarashtra had been brainwashed completely by his son.