History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.254

v7.c95.254

In chapters 30-32 (of ch. ed.) of Vanaparva there is a dialogue between Draupadī and Yudhiṣṭhira, who, having lost his kingdom in gambling with the Kauravas, was in exile and hard pressed Draupadī wonders how such a straightforward, mild, benevolent and truthful prince allowed his mind to be involved in gambling (30. 19), that God does not act towards beings like a father or mother, but He appears to be irascible like a common man, when she sees that honourable men of high character have difficulties in maintaining themselves and dishonourable men live in pleasures (30 38-39); she proceeds 'human beings,²⁵⁴⁴ ignorant and having no control over happiness and misery, go to heaven or hell at the caprice of God.' Yudhiṣṭhira warns her that she talks like an atheist, that he performed no deed with the thought of seeking the reward thereof, that he made gifts and performed sacrifices because he held that it was his duty to do so.' He asked her to give up atheistic talk and not to disrespect Highest God. Then Draupadi came round and replied that she did not mean to disrespect or censure Dharma, that it is far from her thoughts to show disrespect to God, but that, being distressed, she talked like an atheist She then enters upon a discussion²⁵⁴⁵ about what people mean by *diṣṭa* (fate) or *haṭha* (chance) or nature (*svabhāva*) and winds up by saying that whatever a person gains is all the result of deeds in past lives.