Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s3.t2.39

c7.s3.t2.39

In all indoor games there is an imperceptible temptation to play for stakes. The Indian tradition of gambling was a very ancient and a hallowed one. In the ordinary game of *Chaupar*, as has been mentioned, a dice or *pansa* was used. It was a four-sided piece usually made of ivory, the sides marked with one, two, five and six dots respectively. Three such sets were used in playing for stakes.⁶ Gambling was by no means confined to the lower classes. Gulbadan relates that when the royal family was in Kabul, Humayun used to play games for stakes. He used to distribute twenty gold pieces each among the players, both gentlemen and ladies, which served as a deposit for the stakes.⁷