Indian Classical Litrature ( The Dicing And Sequel To Dicing ) Unit- 1 ( Vyasa )

Indian Classical Litrature ( The Dicing And Sequel To Dicing ) Unit- 1 ( Vyasa )  Most Important Question Answer

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Q. Explain the games in The Mahabharat: "The Dicing' and 'The Sequel to Dicing’.

Ans. 

• There were actually two sessions of games mentioned in Mahabharata. In the first /session Yudhishthir lost all his kingdom and possessions including himself, his brothers, and finally his wife Draupadi.

• When this happened Duryodhana had Draupadi forcibly brought to the assembly hall. Here Dushasan, a brother of Duryodhana, tried to strip Draupadi in the assembly hall in front of all the persons assembled there.

• Draupadi was saved from this atrocious and shameless act only by a divine intervention. At this moment inauspicious signs like howling of donkeys and dogs started occurring.

• Dhritrashtra, interpreting these signs as signal of complete downfall and destruction of his family, realized the folly of his actions in enticing Yudhishthir to gambling in a game of dice, and returned everything lost by Yudhishthir.

• In consequence, Yudhishthir returned to his capital Indraprastha. But Duryodhanaand Shakuni were very much dismayed by the decision of Dhritrashtra, and once again prevailed upon him to invite Yudhishthir for another game of dice.

• Yudhishthir, though not at all keen to play, accepted the invitation to save his honour in line with the customs of his time. Thus a second game of dice took place.

• In the second game the wager was between Duryodhana and Yudhishthir, that looser will, along with all his brothers, exile to forest, followed by one year of incognito stay, with further condition that if recognized during this period of incognito stay, they will again go to exile for 12 years.

• Yudhishthir lost this game also. As a result went into exile with his brothers and Draupadi. They spent the next thirteen years in exile as per the condition of wager.

• In consequence, Yudhishthir returned to his capital Indraprastha. But Duryodhana and Shakuni were very much dismayed by the decision of Dhritrashtra, and once again prevailed upon him to invite Yudhishthir for another game of dice.

• Yudhishthir, though not at all keen to play, accepted the invitation to save his honour in line with the customs of his time. Thus a second game of dice took place.

• In the second game the wager was between Duryodhana and Yudhishthir, that looser will, along with all his brothers, exile to forest, followed by one year of incognito stay, with further condition that if recognized during this period of incognito stay, they will again go to exile for 12 years.

• Yudhishthir lost this game also. As a result went into exile with his brothers and Draupadi. They spent the next thirteen years in exile as per the condition of wager.

Q. Comment on the question posed by Draupadi after the dice game. 

Ans. 

• The dicing game led to the poor fate of Pandavas in which they lost everything including themselves. But the loss of Draupadi was under question. 

• There were several arguments in this context. The point which was most problematic was that Draupadi has not been won rather she can't be won because when Yudhishthir lost Draupadi, he himself was a slave and he had no right to stake her when he had already lost himself. 

• Moreover, Yudhishthir staked himself first and then Draupadi. In this sense, Draupadi remains unwinnable because chivalry would not permit Yudhishthira to lose his wife before he loses himself. However, once he has lost himself, he can't lose her. 

• Thus, logically Draupadi remains unwinnable. As long as idea of commodification or unity functions, then Draupadi already stands won in the loss of Yudhishthir self. 

• The paradox here is that on the one hand Draupadi is unwinnable but on the other hand she has already been won . Draupadi wants to know what is her position? Whether she has been won or not? 

• According to the Chivalric code, the treatment she got was not valid. She has lived the life of private confinement and followed the path of Dharma. So, it is considered as sinful to expose such a courteous woman to the court in such a half clothed condition. 

• Moreover, women were treated as commodities and were confined in the domestic area basically. So, it was extremely humiliating for Draupadi to be exposed to the court by the Kunes .

• Draupadi is questioning everyone present in the court how is it acceptable that she is being molested by her own family members. 

• This is highly disgraceful that people who are supposed to pay due respect to Draupadi are responsible for her embarrassing situation. 

• Moreover, she is the wife of a king who is an embodiment of Dharma and who always follows the right path and thus she can't be a slave. She has been forced to come to the court in a half clothed condition. So, she is reminding hem of law and order. 

• She is also challenging and criticizing the chivalric code as the Kurus re torturing a woman. Draupadi wants to know her status and here she stands but the Question remains unanswered.

Q. What role does Sakuni play in the dice game?

Ans, 

• Sakuni can be called the wrecker the Pandava and the Kaurava clans. Not that he alone is responsible for the complete elimination of the great north Indian clans from the face of the earth, he is the only one who in instrumental to the germination of trickery scheme in the gambling game.

• It is hard to believe that a man of his chicanery could be believed at face value of his word. But perhaps it is the epic tradition that evil intrudes through such a character and spoils human happiness including himself.

• Sakuni the maternal uncle of Duryodhana lives with his sister Gandhari temporarily or permanently.There is no evidence is initial intent but the dicing sequel makes his ulterior motive more than clear to the reader. Agreed, Duryodhana is a devil, he has in him unlimited funds of roguery.

• He is Satan, born to ruin his family for ever. True, he is in the wrong but other elders try to disade him from his sinister design. It is he who has full control of Duryodhana. Even if at moments, Duryodhana tries to wriggle out and be a fine man, Sakuni incites him back into the dicing battle.

• It is Sakuni who fans and flares his unbounded jealousy and hatred of the Pandavas Sakuni springs a surprise to be proxy for Duryodhana in the dicing game. He is a dicey character but Yudhishthira and others don't object to the new scheme of things of asking a proxy to play on behalf of Duryodhana.

• The world knows that Sakuni is a trickster, a foul player but they keep quiet for reasons best known to them. In a word, Sakuni is innovator, the inventor and implementer of the dirty proxy plan. He is a inciter, instigator and fully destroyer of good people.

Explain the Krishna's peace proposal in Mahabharat in Udyog Parva?

Ans. 

• This proposal of peace on the side of Pandavas was of course an act of pacifism. The envoy delivers their message that Kauravas give virtue and peace a chance, they give back that which should be returned to Pandavas as per the darma.

• The envoy put the peace message of Pandavas: "Ye best of Kuru's race, overlooking all these injuries of yore they desire nothing but a peaceful settlement with the Kurus!

• Remembering their behavior, and that of Duryodhana also, the latter's friends should entreat him to consent to peace! The heroic sons of Pandu are not eager for war with the Kurus. They desire to get back their share without involving the world in ruin.

• If Dhritarashtra's son assigns a reason in favor of war, that can never be a proper reason". Bhisma responds that the peace proposal makes the sense.

• Duryodhana and his brothers reject the proposal. Karna also opposes the peace proposal and explains the power of himself and the Kauravas. This irritates Bhisma and Dhritarashtra interrupts Karna: "Vaisampayana continued, "Then Dhritarashtra pacified Bhishma with words of entreaty, rebuked the son of Radha, and spoke the following words, What Bhisma, Santanu's son, hath said is salutary for us, as also for the Pandavas, and likewise for the whole universe.

• I shall, however, after deliberation, send Sanjaya to the sons of Pandu. So thou needst not wait. Go thou to the son of Pandu this very day. The Kaurava chief then honored Drupada's priest and sent him back to the Pandavas.

• Thus, every attempt for avoiding war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas fails and the war takes place at Kurukshetra, where Arjuna initially shows his disinterestedness in killing his kith and kins but lord Krishna convinces him to fight for the victory of virtue/truth to bring peace and stability in the Bharata Barsha. In this sense, Krishna's appeal to Arjuna for fighting also seems an act of pacifism.

Q. Critically comment on Birth V/s ability of Karna.

Ans. 

• Stripped of all that is due his station in life and at birth, Karna is the quintessential underdog. 

• A non-standard output of an unknowing virgin princess/queen-to-be, he is orphaned at birth and falls into the care of a charioteer. In spite of his current station, he is guy) uncontrollably led into archery his warrior roots. 

• A self-studied hacker, unable to participate in an archery competition among kings, he gets a break from the Kaurava king (bad Duryodhana on the spot. 

• He is anointed a King, thereby given the opportunity to show his prowess. 

• Karna considers Duryodhana a dear friend and only customer for the rest of his life-even going to war against his own brothers for the sake of Duryodhana.

• It seems everything conspires against Karna from the day he was born, but he simply gets up and walks and walks every time. His trademark Quality is-giving without expectations. 

• He gives away his primary strength granted to him by his father Surya-the Sun god. He acquires the greatest weapon in archery, only to lose the ability to use them due to curses [ah! curses: a favourite pastime for angered teachers and powerful gods in epic stories]. 

• He also loses the use of his second most powerful weapon more than once-as a promise to his real mother. On top of this, his arch opponent (and own brother) Arjuna is the best archer in the world but Karna, has the support of the lord of the universe and master strategist (Krishna), and is protected by the lord of the infinite winds (Hanuman). 

• In short, everything he does leads straight into the finality of fate.

Why does karna refuses the offer?

Ans.

• Karna understand that the suggestions of Krishna are in his interest and welfare for which he is thankful however he politely refuses to accept the offer and he provides two reasons for  his decision 

• First in accordance with the scriptures morality he is the sun of Pandu but has been raised by  Adhirta and his wife Radha . They took him in as their son performed all the necessary birth rights as a sutaKarna feels Murli obligated to adhirata and Radha for the hardship they have endured to raise him.

• He cannot imagine breaking the bond with his parents neither in exchange for heaps of gold nor for the shake of the whole world.

• Second he expresses his sense of  moral duty towards his friend Duryodhana because of him karna enjoyed 15 years of royal power without any trouble. He is relying on karna for his victory and Karna cannot let him down. 

• He refuses to be a traitor and cheat his own sympathisers it is karna duty to stand by Duryodhana in his hour of need. These two reason explains that why Karna doesn't accepted the offer.

Q. Why does Karna request Krishna not to disclose the secret to the Pandava’s?

Ans. 

As we know Yudhishthir is believe in Dharma so karna request Krishna not to disclose this secret to the Pandavas otherwise Yudhishthir will refuse the throne. Because the truth will stand between him and his Dharma. Karna sees Yudhishthira as possessing the proper traits and qualities needed to be a ruler. Yudhister also has the support office earnest and sincere kinsmen.

Q. Critically comment on the story of Madhavi.

Ans.

• Madhavi is the only woman character who plays an active role in her story when she eventually decides to choose celibacy over marriage. Madhavi, daughter of the King Yayati obeys her father's wish to help Galava.

• In Galava's quest, she gets exploited repeatedly. Galava gives her to three Kings each of whom marries her and has a son with her.

• Performing her dharma, Madhavi silently obeys her father and Galava but eventually takes a decision for herself by not marrying again thus not fulfilling her father's wish and finally taking a stand for herself.

• Women characters have truly little to do in this portion of the epic.They are mostly in the background and do not play a very active part and rarely have a voice of their own.

• Gunakesi marries where her father wishes; Madhavi helps Glalava because it is a question of her father's honour; she even helps her father regain heaven through her virtue.

• Madhavi asserts herself only when she chooses a life of chastity for herself in the end A feminist reading of Madhavi's story would certainly see the patriarchal oppression at the exploitation of this woman in the name of filial duty.

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