Shakuni provokes Yudhishthira into accepting the dice game
Shakuni announces the dice are ready and urges Yudhishthira to begin. Yudhishthira argues that deceitful gambling is a sin with no kshatriya valour, but when challenged directly, he declares he cannot withdraw from a challenge. He accepts the terms, even though Shakuni will play for Duryodhana.
Shakuni looked at Yudhishthira. The carpet was spread. The assembly waited. "O king," he said. "The time for gambling has come."
Yudhishthira did not move toward the dice. "Dishonest gambling is evil," he replied. "There is no kshatriya (warrior) valour in it. Why do you praise it? The learned do not praise deceitful gambling. Like a cruel person, do not defeat us through a crooked path."
Shakuni's answer was a lesson in cunning. The one who knows numbers and deceptions, who is tireless and intelligent in the art, is the one who knows all the techniques. Through handling the dice, one can defeat an enemy. Blaming destiny was pointless. "Let us gamble and have no anxiety," he said. "Let us decide on the stakes."
Yudhishthira cited the sages: it was a sin to play with deceitful gamblers. It was best to win a battle through dharma (righteousness); only then was gambling sanctioned. Aryas (the noble) did not use deceit in behaviour. "I do not desire happiness and riches through deceit," he stated. "But even if a gambler plays without deceit, gambling is never praised."
Shakuni pressed the point home. "The learned triumph over the non-learned only through trickery. That is how the wise triumph over the stupid, but people don't call it trickery." Then he offered an out. "If you think I will resort to trickery, if that is your fear, then refrain."
That was the trigger. Yudhishthira's vow was clear. "Once challenged, I will not withdraw," he said. "Fate is the powerful one and we are in the power of destiny." He asked who he would play against and what the counter-stake would be.
Duryodhana spoke. "I will stake all my jewels and my riches. My maternal uncle, Shakuni, will gamble on my behalf."
Yudhishthira saw the flaw. "To me, it seems unfair that one man should gamble in another's place. You know this." Then he yielded. "However, if that is what you want, so be it."