Kali and the Dice

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्

 देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयम् उदीरयेत्

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

Nala and Damayanti

Kali and the Dice

 By and by Damayanti had two children: a daughter, Indrasena, and a son, Indrasen. Nala ruled his kingdom with a fair hand and practiced the Vedic sacrifices. There was abundance in the land.

But Kali roamed the kingdom of the Nishadha’s waiting for his chance. Now this Kali was kind of Gandharva, evil in character, dark and sinister in every way. This dogfaced devil was coal-black with a huge tongue. The pestilent stench of rotting meat pervading his flesh. Kali had to power to possess men’s souls. He would enter into them and provoke them to sinful acts. Even today Kali’s influence is felt, for this is his age, Kali-yuga. He is present wherever there is meat-eating, intoxication, illicit sex, and gambling. He stands against any religious principles, especially austerity, cleanliness, mercy, and truthfulness. The envious Kali delights in promoting war, envy, hatred and lies. He was born in a long line of monsters from lust and incest. He was the son of Krodha, Anger, and his sister, Violence.  And as his influence becomes more and more profound, mankind itself is cast into the abyss of anger, violence and sin. Slaughterhouses, children bearing arms, and the destruction of the planet are all aspects of Kali’s influence. Alas for Nala, the satanic Kali plotted Nala’s ruin. He entered into the land of Nishadha and began observing King Nala, waiting for his opportunity to enter into him, for Kali was a powerful supernatural being who could enter into the body of a man who had committed a sin and control his spirit, further corrupting him. 

But Nala was without sin. Kali watched and waited for his opportunity, hiding himself by becoming invisible. He bided his time, haunting the palace where Nala ruled. And as a ghost he followed Nala, day and night for 12 long years.  Some say that Kali-yuga lasts 12,000 years, and that the 12 years time the Pandavas must spend in the forest reflects a fraction of this time.

Finally, his time came. One day Nala went to perform his worship without having washed his feet. He was in an unclean state, and yet, so contaminated, performed his worship. Kali saw his chance.  He seized the moment. Entering Nala’s  body, Kali’s spirit infected that great king with his influence. 

Now that King Nala had been infected by the spirit of Kali he suffered under his power. He was no longer himself. He began to miss his morning prayers. He became forgetful of his pious activities. He no longer invited the saints to discuss with him the deep meaning of the scriptures. He gradually sank into ignorance.

And now that Nala was under his influence, Kali left him for a time. In order to fulfill his plan for revenge, Kali had bound him in a spell of discord, and as Nala was under his spell, the demon Kali himself left Nala’s physical body for a time. 

In order to further his plans of vengeance against Nala, Kali went to another king, Pushkara, who was Nala’s brother and ruled in another part of Nishadha. He brought Pushkara under his influence by playing on his greed and envy. He promised Pushkara an easy victory in gambling against Nala. He said, “Invite Nala to play dice with you. Have no fear, for my power shall enter into the dice and determine the outcome. Bet any stakes you like. I shall make the game look sporting, but in the end you will surely defeat him. In this way, you can win his kingdom and all his wealth. You shall rule both Nishadha and Vidarbha as the uncontested King of all the realm.” 

With flattery, lies and sweet words Kali brought Pushkara under his influence. Kali left him and returned to Vishadha where Nala dwelled, falling gradually deeper under his spell. Kali possessed him entirely and brought him under his control. 

Pushkara passed many sleepless nights thinking of the vast fortune that awaited him. All he needed to do was throw the dice with his brother. He waited a certain time and then arranged to visit Nala.

Arriving in Vishadha, Pushkara was welcomed by Nala with all the hospitality at his disposal.

“My brother,” he said. “It gives me such great pleasure that you have visited me after such a long time. Stay with me here in my Palace and we can rule together.”

“I am not qualified for such an honor,” said Pushkara, “but let us pass some time together.

And in the evening as they sat admiring the sunset, Pushkara spoke to Nala as follows:

“You are expert in so many things, my brother: Horses, women, food, and even gaming at dice. But this evening I see my lucky star even now in the heavens. I’m feeling lucky. Let’s have a game of dice. You, of course, are far more expert. But I think this is my lucky day.”

Nala said, “My gaming days are over. Now that I am married I have so many responsibilites. It’s not a good idea. Let’s have some other entertainment.”

With this, Damayanti entered with he handmaids and resfreshments. 

“How wonderful that your brother has come to visit,” she said. “If you like I shall have the court musicians play.”

And Pushkara said, “We were just about to have a sporting game of dice.”

Nala smiled. “Well, if you insist on losing, let’s play fro friendly stakes,” he said. He clapped his hands. A servant appeared. “Bring the gaming tables and the dice.” He said.

The tables were laid for dice, fine carpets and pillows were set out. Drinks were brought. The two brothers settled in to play. And as they played, the king’s ministers joined them, interested in the game. Even the residents of the palace and townspeople came out to see the play.  They sat quietly as the two brothers roled the dice.

“You go first,” said Nala, gallantly, although he was now fully possessed by Kali.

“What stakes shall we lay?” Said Pushkara.

“Let’s play for friendly stakes. I wager a bowl of rice.”

“Done,” said Pushkara.

They threw the dice and Pushkara lost.

“You see,” said Nala. “It’s not your lucky night after all. Let’s have the musicians, then.”

“You must let me have my revenge,” said Pushkara. “Let’s wager a sack of rice.”

“Very well,” said Nala.

They threw the dice again. Again Pushkara lost.

“Where’s your luck now?” said Nala, enjoying himself.

“Well, perhaps the stars need a better wager. Instead of rice, I’ll wager silver on the next throw.”

“Suit yourself, my brother,” said Nala.

At this point Nala was fully under Kali’s influence. Kali no longer needed to possess him fully. The demonic Kali left Nala and entered into the dice. They threw the dice again.

“I win.” Said Pushkara. “Perhaps this is my lucky night.”

“Skill will beat luck.” Said Nala, “Let’s throw again.”

“My chariot against yours.” Said Pushkara.

And so Nala began to bet and lose. He lost his chariots, his silver and then they played for stakes of raw and refined gold, wagons, elephants, teams of horses, and silk clothes. Nala became crazed by the thrill of the dice. The people watched in horror as he began to lose everything. He couldn’t stop. He lost his wealth throw after throw. But on and on they played, until Nala had lost everything.

They played long into the night, and Nala would sometimes win enough of his wealth back that he would get his hopes up and make even more extravagant wagers in a mad attempt to win everything back. And then he would lose again.

The game went on. 

They played day after day. The townspeople stood in amazement. The king’s counsellors came and advised the king it was time to stop his foolishness, but under Kali’s influence Nala could not stop.

The ministers told the king that they had important business; the games should be suspended. The people were becoming impatient with the corruption of their king.  And Damayanti, besides herself with worry, told Nala it was time to stop with his vice. 

But Nala, inflamed by the gambling madness had lost everything. He was stunned by his constant defeats. He would listen to no counsel but played on and on. Damayanti, understanding that Nala’s madness would lead to ruin, sent her children with Nala’s trusted charioteer to the kingdom of Vidarbha and her father, Bhima.

After Pushkara had won everything from Nala, they played for his kingdom and all his lands. Again he lost. And when Nala had nothing further to lose, Pushkara said, “What are the stakes now? All you have left is the lovely Damayanti. Very well. Let us play for her. Let’s be fair. I stake everything you have lost against the fair Damayanti. If you win, you win everything back. If I win, I take Damayanti.”

But Nala had had enough. He looked Pushkar in the eye as he stripped off his silk garments and fine ornaments until he was dressed only in a loincloth. Laying his clothes in a pile before the greedy king, he said, “Take your winnings,” and left the court. 

He walked to the palace gates and kept walking. Leaving the city, he set out for the forest. There he spent three nights with his wife. But the cruel Pushkar gave a royal decree. “Nala is exiled. Any and all who show him any attention or help shall be condemned to death, effective immediately.”

And so, O Yudhisthira, Nala was exiled to the forest. The  citizens abandoned him. They neither gave him refuge nor offered him hospitality, but closed their doors to the king.  He was left to starve in the forest with only his loincloth to protect him from the cold.