The Gambler's song

The world of gambling is very fascinating and interesting. This is something which stood the test of time and remained alive. It has many references in our puranas and itihasas. Though gambling has been mentioned as a favorite recreation, its role in the epic Mahabharata is pivotal. What draws attention, more than the games are the stakes involved and ownership assumptions of the stakes.

When Pandavas offered elephants, chariots and finally their kingdom, their assumption of their ownership was not questioned. These were mere materialistic possessions. But when Yudhishtira offers his wife Draupadi as stake in the game, Draupadi questions him against his assumption of ownership of her. This whole episode gives an impression that wife is considered as an object to provide happiness to the man. Objectification of women is something that strikes in this gambling scene.

 An abducted Sita (from the epic Ramayana) to a modern day Delhi gang rape victim, there are countless examples of how women are commodified. Perhaps to be purchased, abducted, taken – and once tired of, even discarded; certainly not treated as full human beings with equal rights.
There is another important note that can be made from this story. Draupadi rejects Karna to participate in Swayamwara, considering that he wants to ‘gift’ her to Duryodhan. The same woman who revolted against objectifying her was made as a stake in the game. Does it carry a sense that women are free to voice against objectifying them as long as they are not married, but once they are married, they become possessions of their husband? Was that what she felt, since she followed her husbands into forest even after she was mistreated? The concept of patronizing women who follow their husbands into forests reflects the social expectations and demands of those times. There was no mention even in Ramayana or Mahabharata of how women who followed their husbands into forest felt. Were they doing it voluntarily or just succumbing to social pressures? Are these texts telling women what to do by showing these examples? Was there a context to discuss Draupadi’s opinion on sharing husbands? The story is always told from Pandava’s side as to how Kunti’s words can’t go false and that they had to share their wife. Also while mentioning of his victory in swayamwaram, Arjuna tells his mother that he has won a valuable prize. That is when his mother immediately responds by telling him to share it with his brothers. Is a woman nothing more than a valuable prize? Is she just an object that can be brought home, shared and enjoyed? Doesn't she possess rights to decide her own life? Did anyone bother to consider what she felt? Would any woman be willing to get married to five men?

This story makes the role of women in ancient India questionable. Women are taught and treated to be sub-ordinates and bound by social and cultural factors to loyally serve their husbands. Also the acceptance of multiple marriages of kings (polygyny), while idealizing women, who serve their husbands with devotion as ‘pativratas’ , reflects double standards in the social system. Exchange of a daughter’s hand in marriage to an emperor, as a symbol of their good relations, depicts the way women were objectified. Examples of women, who were treated as mere assets and picturing father or husband as the owner of a woman, while man is free to possess any number of women,  in many ancient texts reflects hypocrisy and patriarchy.

Interestingly, this scene of Mahabharata not only brings one to thinking about objectifying women but also the concept of ‘Dharma’ and dilemma in prioritizing dharma of various roles played by a  man. Mahabharata speaks about Yudhishtira having to have accepted the challenge as his Kshatriya dharma. Going as per the same notions, isn't it his dharma to protect his wife? Which Dharma is more important: As a Kshatriya or as a husband?  When he offers his wife in gambling, is his dharma as a husband overruled by his dharma as a king (Kshatriya)? Even if he is following Kshatriya dharma, does the same dharma approve him of gambling away his kingdom? Isn't Kshatriya dharma about protecting the kingdom and people, but not offering them as stake in a board game?
Isn't it human Dharma to treat all the creatures around you with respect and dignity, while considering them as equals?