Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.44

v1.c3.44

The nature of the throws is obscure. The St. Petersburg Dictionary conjectures that the names given above were applied either to dice marked 4, 3, 2, or 1, or to the sides of the dice so marked, and the latter interpretation is supported by some late commentators.²⁶ But there is no evidence for the former interpretation, and, as regards the latter, the shape of the Vibhīdaka nuts,²⁷ used as dice, forbids any side being properly on the top. Light is thrown on the expressions by the description of a ritual game²⁸ at the Agnyādheya and at the Rājasūya ceremonies. The details are not certain,²⁹ but it is clear that the game consisted in securing even numbers of dice, usually a number divisible by four, the Kṛta, the other three throws then being the Tretā, when three remained over after division by four; the Dvāpara, when two was the remainder; and the Kali, when one remained. If five were the dividing number, then the throw which showed no remainder was Kali, the Kṛta was that when four was left, and so on. The dice had no numerals marked on them, the only question being what was the total number of the dice themselves.