Dice gambling

The sacrifice was held soon, but this time it was not as grand as that of King Drupada or other kings, though it was still very exquisite, and the god worshipped was none other than Rati, the god of Sweetness City.

"So, this is why you came?"

Lady Rati crossed her legs and sized up the king before her. She rested one hand on her cheek, and this blessing of "winning every bet" was indeed within her power. After all, lovers would also use this method to add some foreplay and fun.

"Yes, O God Rati." Yudhishthira knelt devoutly on the ground, but then changed the subject, pleading with Rati, "But besides that, I wish to add a limitation to your blessings."

"Oh?" God Rati stroked his chin with interest. He had seen many people who wanted to bestow blessings. For some greedy people, or Asura who couldn't wait to challenge Indra with their blessings, the gods would usually leave a loophole in their blessings. But this was the first time he had seen someone actively request to add a loophole.

"Now that I am the king, I can no longer go to Karna to play dice like before. If the king is obsessed with gambling, then his subjects will follow suit. As the king who guides the people, I must warn my subjects of the dangers of gambling."

Mr. Bai Mo also warned me that gambling on dice would only lead to losing everything in the end, and he even threatened to break my legs if I gambled on dice. I cannot bring this harm to the people.

Therefore, please add a limitation to this blessing.

Faced with Yudhishthira's request, Rati nodded secretly, but still said somewhat speechlessly, "You clearly know the harm of gambling, so why don't you just quit?"

"No way, that's my only hobby." Yudhishthira shook his head vigorously. In many cases, a perfect person doesn't exist. If a person could live a life without a single flaw, then he wouldn't be a human being, but a Buddha. Yudhishthira's passion for gambling was genuine; he considered it his most ardent hobby in life.

"I am pleased that you have such awareness. Although I am the god of skill, even the gods abide by the Dharma. Even if you didn't say it, I would have added restrictions. It is somewhat unexpected that you brought it up on your own initiative."

"Then I bestow upon you the blessing of unparalleled victory in every gamble, but O King of Yudhishthira, once you truly begin to crave the chips in gambling, desiring to gain profit from them, then this blessing will be nullified."

"Thank you, Lady Rati."

After the Yudhishthira, God Rati looked at the offerings that filled the room. These were mostly not treasures, but rather toys and fresh flowers bought from the common people.

Having received the blessing, Yudhishthira and said to his brothers, "I am ready."

And so, Yudhishthira embarked on his journey to Hastinapura, while Krishna returned to continue observing the space that Bai Mo had entered. He continuously cast the Myoken Divine Wheel into it, Vishnu's most renowned artifact, which could enter and serve as a coordinate. However, it was unknown when Bai Mo would be able to find it.

Krishna felt like a fisherman guarding his fishing rod.

As for Karna, he was also unable to go along because he had sworn never to enter Hastinapura again.

When the Pandavas arrived, as expected, Duryodhana had already set up the gambling table. Yudhishthira sighed in resignation, but as a king, he could not back down from the challenge. Bhishma and Drona both refused, and even Vidura condemned it, but Dhritarashtra supported his son without hesitation. And so, the gambling began.

"Duryodhana. If you're going to gamble, why have Shakuni do it for you?"

"Stop talking nonsense, Yudhishthira, are you afraid?"

Looking at the person before him, Duryodhana seemed to see countless riches. Yudhishthira sighed helplessly. Then, Duryodhana first threw out his own private treasury, his own personal wealth. Yudhishthira also threw out an equal amount of wealth. Looking at Duryodhana's jars filled with gold coins, Yudhishthira's heart remained unmoved.

He was puzzled: Karna had given him so much wealth before, so why was this all he received?

Did they really take them all out?

Duryodhana and Shakuni laughed like old foxes. Then, Shakuni rubbed the dice in his hand and threw them up suddenly.

Six o'clock.

Shakuni's expression froze instantly. He glanced at Yudhishthira, then smiled and said, "It's nothing, just luck."

Then, Shakuni, using his gambling skills, also threw out six.

But gradually, everyone discovered the problem: the dice seemed to only have a six, whether in Shakuni's hands or in Yudhishthira's.

Duryodhana whispered in Shakuni's ear, "Uncle, what's going on? You've tied five games in a row."

"I don't know the kid. I can't figure out his technique. He acts like a child, but he rolls a six every time. I suspect he was just putting on an act before the Yudhishthira; this guy might be a hidden master dice player."

"A hidden master of dice gambling?!" Duryodhana was shocked and quickly asked, "What do we do then?"

"Don't worry, child. Just keep increasing the stakes, and even the best players will fail. Let me wear him down first."

Then, Shakuni said to Yudhishthira, "King Yudhishthira, this is really boring. If so much time is spent just for such a small amount of money, then it seems a bit beneath you and us."

I propose that if it's a tie, we continue to raise the bet, and if one side stops betting, then they concede.

Shakuni looked at Yudhishthira with a smile, like an old fox.

"After all, the moment a gambler loses courage, they've already lost; the gambler who dares not gamble is the real loser."

"But do you have that much wealth to gamble with?"

"Yudhishthira asked with a questioning tone," said Dudi. Duryodhana, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, roared, "Do you look down on me, Yudhishthira?!"

"No... I just wanted to ask, where did you get your wealth, you prince who didn't inherit the throne...?"

"I haven't inherited the throne yet, so how dare you insult me like this?!"

Yudhishthira remained silent, not even wanting to speak anymore. He felt that whatever he said would only irritate Duryodhana's nerves.

"Hmph, don't worry about it. Wealth isn't just about money; I can offer things beyond your imagination. My father will also support me. Heh, you've never experienced receiving money from your father, have you?"

Yudhishthira's expression darkened. He grabbed the dice and said, "Since that's the case, I'll grant your request, but the value of the goods we pay must be equal."

"That's natural."

And so began the great battle between Shakuni and Yudhishthira. This gambling was ugly, but it lasted a long time. During this time, the dice did not change except for six points, and the stakes kept rising.

"I'll wager the slaves in my father's palace."

"I'll bet all the prisoners of war I've captured in this war."

"I wager the guards of Hastinapura."

"I'll stake on the guards in the Indraprastha."

The human brain is rarely able to think rationally at all times. For most people, the pain of losing wealth far outweighs the joy of gaining it. The phrase "cut your losses" sounds simple, but countless people have fallen victim to it.

This applies to business, and it also applies to gambling.

But Yudhishthira was confident because he did not have such a strong desire for wealth, and Duryodhana was unlikely to offer him the wealth or anything else that he desired.

The stakes kept rising, and time quietly slipped away.

"I've staked the entire Kingdom of Gandhara, I've staked this country! I've staked this country where my parents are buried!"

Shakuni's face twitched, veins bulged, and sweat poured down his face. Duryodhana was horrified, but Shakuni waved his hand to stop Duryodhana from speaking further.

"Don't stop me, son, I've already staked my gambler's pride on this!"

Duryodhana emotion, tears welled in his eyes, and he slapped his thighs with both hands.

"Then I'll wager the lands near the Ganges, the same lands as the Gandhara Kingdom," said Yudhishthira, then threw the dice again.

Six o'clock.

Time flies, and this ugly gamble continues. The sun rises and sets again, and finally, no one can resist slapping their own thigh in Duryodhana.

"I'll stake Bhishma and Drona on it!"

Bhishma and Drona sensed that this guy had gone mad. Bhishma roared, "Duryodhana, I am not your slave! You have no right to gamble with me!"

"Stop talking, Grandfather. Haven't you always wanted to be free from the duty of guarding the throne of Hastinapura? If you win the Yudhishthira, go to his side!"

Alright, Yudhishthira, if you obtain the power of your grandfather Bhishma, then you can kill us at any time. In other words, I have already staked my own and my brothers' lives.

"And you? Are you willing to risk yourself and your brothers?"

"What is there to be afraid of!"

Bhima: "No... brother..."

Unlike the others, Arjuna, sitting in his chair, made no comment. Everything he had was brutally thrown onto the gambling table, and those things that had been praised and lauded were now just like a vulgar money bag.

"Arjuna, you should try to persuade Brother Yudhishthira."

"We must respect our elder brother's orders; the rights of a younger brother belong to his elder brother." Arjuna closed his eyes and answered in the most traditional way.

Even the once dignified and imposing figure of Yudhishthira was now gone; the long passage of time had worn down his reason, and Shakuni on the other side was no longer able to speak.

This time, Duryodhana truly offered a wager that would Yudhishthira. The Pandavas were brought from the forest to the palace. It could be said that only Bhishma had given them genuine care and protection. Faced with this opportunity to liberate his grandfather, Yudhishthira could not help but be tempted.

The dice slowly fell, and this time, the numbers on them finally changed.

Seeing this, Shakuni's heavy breathing finally calmed down. He immediately felt dizzy and weak.

But that's alright, this time it's his victory!

He wanted to stand up, to cheer, to celebrate. But he couldn't speak. Only now did he realize how dry his throat was.

Shakuni is already fifty years old. At this age, people should start paying attention to health. But they started gambling with dice at night, and now it's already sunset. The prolonged blood rush and rapid heartbeat are beyond what his body can handle.

Gradually, he lowered his head.

It turned into a snow-white ash.

For a gambler, dying at the gambling table might be a kind of happiness.