A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.2206.4

c5.2206.4

He challenged Yudhi-shthira to throw dice with him, and Yudhi-shthira, after stipulating for fair-play, began the game. He lost his all, his kingdom, his brothers, himself, and his wife, all of whom became slaves. When Draupadī was sent for as a slave and refused to come, Duh-sāsana dragged her into the hall by the hair, and both he and Dur-yodhana grossly insulted her. Bhīma was half mad with rage, but Yudhi-shthira’s sense of right acknowledged that Draupadī was a slave, and he forbade Bhīma and his brothers to interfere. When the old Mahā-rāja Dhrita-rāshtra was informed of what had passed, he came into the assembly, and declaring that his sons had acted wrongfully, he sent Draupadī and her husbands away, imploring them to forget what had passed. Duryodhana was very wroth, and induced the Mahā-rāja to allow another game to avoid war, the condition being that the losers should go into exile for thirteen years, and should remain concealed and undiscovered during the whole of the thirteenth year. The game was played, and loaded dice gave Sakuni the victory, so the Pāndavas went again into exile. During that time they rendered a service to Duryodhana by rescuing him and his companions from a band of marauders who had made them prisoners. When Jayad-ratha, king of Sindhu, was foiled in his attempt to carry off Draupadī, the clemency of Yudhi-shthira led him to implore his brothers to spare their captive’s life.