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II. Discrepancies in the other Parvans
The incongruous elements in the versions of the game noticed in the Udyogaparvan and the Aranyakaparvan are of a more radical nature. They present to us Yudhisthira in a totally different light.
1) The Udyogaparvan : When, before the war, the Pandavas were taking counsel regarding the future course of action, Balarāma, at one stage, drew attention to the way how the Pāndavas lost their kingdom. He said: “All the principal heroes in the Kuru family and Yudhisthira's friends tried to prevent him from indulging in the game of dice. Although not a skilled player, Yudhisthira challenged Sakuni, a known skilled player, to a game. There were other gamblers in the Hall and Yudhisthira could have challenged them and won. Instead, he challenged Sakuni and was defeated. As the game progressed, the dice always turned out to be unfavourable to Yudhisthira. He was confused and lost miserably. There was no fault of Sakuni (tatraparādhah sakuner na kaś cit 5.2.9-11).
Balarāma's account is at complete variance with the one found in the Sabhāparvan. In the latter, no one is reported to have tried to dissuade Yudhisthira. In fact, the question of dissuasion did not arise at all. Yudhisthira had already told Vidura that he would not himself challenge Sakuni, since he did not wish to play dice; but if he was challenged by Sakuni, he, following his vow, would accept it (2.52.16). There was thus no question of Yudhisthira's challenging Sakuni or any one of the gamblers. According to the Sabhāparvan, the compulsion for playing the game was Sakuni's challenge; he won, because his confidence in his skill was justified. According to Balarāma's version, the compulsion for playing the game was Yudhisthira's own urge to play; he lost, because his confidence was. misplaced.
2) The Aranyakaparvan : The information supplied by the account in the Aranyakaparvan changes the image of Yudhisthira even more radically. The information assumes significance because it is supplied by Yudhisthira himself.
Once, in the forest, during the course of a conversation, Yudhisthira admitted to Bhima that because he (Yudhisthira) adopted the wrong path they all faced their present difficult condition (mamănayād dhi vyasanam va agát 3.35.1). He continued : 'It was I who took recourse to the dice in order to deprive Duryodhana of his entire kingdom (rājyarn sarăstram ?). But the rogue Sakuni played against me for Duryodhana. As the game progressed, I noticed that the dice resulted according to the wishes of Śakuni -- they turned out to be odd or even as he desired. Seeing that it should have been possible for me to control myself (and stop playing). But anger destroys a man's equilibrium"
(aham hy akşan anvapadyam jihirşan răjyam sarāstram dhȚtrarăstrasya putrāt/ tan mā śathaḥ kitavah pratyadevit suyodhanārthar subalasya putraḥ // ... akşãn hi drstvå sakuner yathāvat kāmānulomān ayujo yujas'ca/ sakyaṁ niyantum abhavisyad ātmā manyus tu hanti puruşasya dhairyam //
Madhu Vidyā/504
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