The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c22.35.2

v1.c22.35.2

He usually made over his property to his sons and disappeared literally or to all intent, becoming a wood-dweller. If such was the fate of the ordinary old man, the fate of kings was worse, as there was more to gain by their suppression. No regard at all was paid to the old king, who was king only in name. The Pāṇḍus were challenged to a friendly game of dice to be played in the Kurus’ city. It may be remarked here that the old site of the Kurus at the famous Kuru Plain had evidently been given up, as the Kurus were pushed back to Hastināpur, where they lived at the time of the epic story. The Pāṇḍus vaingloriously assented to make this return visit and see their kinsmen in the north. On arriving they were courteously received, and after spending a night with their hosts proceeded to the gambling-hall, where in one throw after another the Kuru prince, playing by proxy and thus securing the aid of the best gambler at court, won all the wealth, family, and kingdom of the Pāṇḍu emperor, who, however, ventured to play once more for the stake of banishment. As the emperor had already played the lives of his brothers and wife and lost, this last throw was an effort on the part of the Kurus to get them out of the way without imprisonment or other disgrace which might have occasioned a rising of other allies of the emperor. As it was, the Pāṇḍu king gave his word that, if he lost the last throw, he would go into banishment for twelve years with all his family.