of the Swayamvara. The delicate question of CHAPTER I. marriage was to be settled by an archery match. On the appointed day the Pándavas made their appearance on the ground; but in order to keep themselves concealed, they disguised themselves as Bráhmans. The story of the simple ceremony which followed is valuable from its general accordance with old traditions. The brother of Draupadí placed the nuptial garland in her hand, and led her into the arena, and proclaimed to all present that she would be given in marriage to the fortunate archer who succeeded in striking a particular mark, which is said to have been an artificial fish twirling round on the top of a pole. Many aspiring youths assayed the feat, but failed. The ambitious Karna entered the lists, but was not allowed to shoot, as the damsel declared that she would not marry a man of such mean birth. Finally, Arjuna stepped forward, drew his bow and struck the fish; and Draupadí, pleased with his appearance, threw the garland round his neck, and permitted him to lead her away.

of Brahmans.

A strange tumult then arose amongst the suitors. Inferior status Arjuna was disguised as a Bráhman; and it was not only surprising that a Bráhman should have hit the mark, but contrary to all precedent that a Bráhman should have dared to enter the lists, and compete for the hand of a daughter of a Raja. But in due course the whole matter was explained; and when the birth and lineage of the Pándavas were set forth, the marriage was admitted to be in every way suitable. One blot remains upon the story, over which it is necessary to draw a veil. According to a depraved usage, which prevailed in the

CHAPTER I. early colonial life of the Vedic Aryans, the damsel became the wife, not of Arjuna alone, but of all the five brothers.

Rajasúya, or royal feast.

Passion of Kshatriyas for gambling.

For a brief period the narrative runs on smoothly. The colonization of Indraprastha was effected by firing the jungle and driving out the Nága inhabitants. A romantic episode is introduced to the effect that Arjuna left his home for a year, and during that period married a Nága lady; but the incident is only valuable as illustrating the early relations between the Vedic Aryans and the surrounding Nágas. When the settlement had been established, the Pándavas celebrated a great flésh sacrifice, known as the Rajasúya, or royal sacrifice, by which they asserted their right to the land, or Raj. This feast was attended by many neighbouring Rajas, and amongst others by their cousins the Kauravas. The Rajasúya was regarded as a success and triumph; and it consequently re-awakened the old jealousy of the Kauravas. Accordingly Duryodhana plotted with his brethren to humiliate the pride of the Pandavas by depriving them of their wife and land.

Here it may be remarked that gambling was not only a vice but a passion with the ancient Kshatriyas. Strangely enough, stories of men who have lost their lands, their wealth, and even their wives by gambling, are not only to be found in old Hindú traditions, but are common to this day amongst the Indo-Chinese populations of Burma and elsewhere in the eastern peninsula. Duryodhana, and his brother Duhsásana, consulted their gambling uncle Sakuni, as to how they might inveigle Yudhishthira into a game in which he

match.

would be certain to lose. Ultimately it was agreed CHAPTER I. to challenge the Pándavas to a gambling-match at GamingHastinapur; and then Duryodhana was to lay down. the stakes, whilst Sakuni played the game in his behalf. The plot was carried out. The Pándavas accepted the challenge, and appeared with their wife Draupadí at Hastinápur, where they were received with every demonstration of kindness and hospitality. A tent for the game was set up hard by; and there the memorable game was played between Yudhishthira and Sakuni; whilst Drona and Bhishma, and indeed the Kauravas and the other Pandavas as well, took no part in the gambling, and were merely lookers-on.

The incidents of this gambling-match have been familiar to every educated Hindú throughout the Indian continent for unrecorded centuries. Sakuni is accused of having used loaded dice, and thus to have won every game unfairly. The infatuation of Yudhishthira forms an equally important feature in the ancient story. He lost all the cattle, possessions, and lands at Indraprastha belonging to himself and his brethren. Next he staked his brethren, one after the other, and lost them. Next he staked himself, and still he continued to lose. Finally, he was induced to stake Draupadí; and this important throw, like all the others, was won by Sakuni. Thus the Pándavas were stripped of all their property; and they, and their wife Draupadí, were reduced to the condition of slaves to the Kauravas, by the folly and madness of their elder brother, whose authority they had not ventured to set aside.

At this catastrophe a strange point of law was raised, which proves that such reckless gambling

Sensational scene.

CHAPTER I. matches were by no means unfrequent in ancient times. A messenger was sent to bring Draupadí into the tent, and to inform her that Yudhishthira had gambled her away, and that she had thus become a slave girl to the Kauravas. When, however, she heard what had transpired, she insisted upon knowing whether Yudhishthira had not made himself a slave before he had wagered her, and thus lost the power to gamble away the liberty of a free woman. No one, however, vouchsafed a reply. A scene followed in the gambling-tent which must be left to the imagination. Duryodhana and Duhsásana insulted Draupadí by affecting to treat her as a slave-girl; and Bhíma and his younger brethren were maddened by the sight. Yudhishthira hung down his head with shame, but made no movement; and his brothers could not act without the consent of the elder. Meantime Bhishma, the patriarch, and Drona, the look on with silent horror. At last the dreadful intelligence was carried to the blind Raja Dhritarashtra. He at once ordered himself to be led to the gambling-tent; and then commanded that Draupadí should be restored to her husbands. But the Pandavas were deprived of all their lands and possessions, and compelled to go out into the jungle for a period of twelve years, and to subsist as they best could on fruits and game.20 The Pándavas obeyed the Raja without demur; but as they left the old palace Bhíma loudly swore that a day should come when he would break the thigh of Duryodhana and drink the blood of Duhsásana.

preceptor, could only

20 There was a thirteenth year of exile, but the incident is apparently modern. See History, vol. i., Mahá Bhárata.

Mahá Bharata.

The adventures of the Pándavas during their CHAPTER I. exile throw but little authentic light upon the prevailing state of life and manners. It will suffice to say that after the prescribed period, they opened up negotiations with the Kauravas for the recovery of their lands; and it is curious to note that these negotiations were never carried on in writing, but only by word of mouth through messengers, envoys, or heralds. At last war commenced in a War of the savage but natural fashion. The allies on either side were marshalled upon the famous plain of Kurukshetra, amidst the deafening noise of drums and shells. Then the rival warriors insulted and abused each other, until at last they fell to like madmen. The battles were little more than single combats, in which infuriated savages fought with fists and clubs, or kicked and wrestled with their legs and arms, or shot arrows, threw stones, or hacked and hewed with swords and axes, cutting off the head of every enemy that fell. Bhishma was slain in a single combat with Arjuna. Drona was slain by the brother of Draupadí. Bhíma succeeded in defeating Duhsásana, and fulfilled his vow by decapitating him on the field of battle, and drinking his blood with savage shouts of exultation. At last there was a decisive combat between Arjuna and Karna, in which Karna was slain. The Kauravas now lost heart. The few survivors fled from the field, excepting Duryodhana, who endeavoured to

20 The plain of Kurukshetra is identified with that of Paniput. It lies to the north-west of Delhi, and has been the most famous battle-field in India from time immemorial. It was here that Baber fought the great battle in 1525, which virtually established the Mogul dynasty at Delhi; and it was here that Ahmed Shah, the Afghan, inflicted such a crushing blow upon the Mahrattas in 1761, as practically cleared the way for the establishment of Great Britain as the paramount power.