Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c18.49

v2.c18.49

Bhishma now said he could not answer Draupadī’s question, for it was about a very fine point of law. On the one hand, he said, a man who was no longer his own master, a slave, could not play away another’s property.² On the other hand the wife was always under the dominion of her husband. Çakuni ³ was without a rival in the dice-game, Yudhishṭhira had wished to play with him, and his wish had been granted by Çakuni. Yudhishṭhira had owned himself beaten, “ won in the game,” and did not look on it as any trickery. Draupadī made answer : “ The king, who has had little practice in gaming, was challenged ⁴ by skilled, base, evil-minded, and malicious lovers of gambling in the hall. How can it be that his wish was granted him ! And how,⁵ then, could he make