[DiatryDal]

When King Yudhishtira has staked himself in a game of dice, and lost, does he have the right to stake another?

Bhishma's answer: Dharma is very subtle. But in this world, whatever the strong man says, is considered the highest dharma, while the words of the weak are not considered at all. It is Yudhishtira alone who can answer this question. He has to say whether he considers himself won or not.

Vidura's answer: A great calamity has been sent to us by destiny. This gambling was done without due consideration. Even now, they are disputing in the open assembly about a lady! If Yudhishthira had staked her before he was won, we can regard him as her master. But if a person stakes anything when he himself is penniless, to win it is similar to winning wealth in a dream.

Duryodhana's answer: Let us hear what Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva say. If they say that Yudhishtira is not their lord, and he committed an indiscretion by staking them, then Draupadi will be set free. We will also follow what Yudhishtira says. Let Yudhishtira say whether he is Draupadi's husband or not. If he declares that he is not her husband, she will be set free.

Karna's answer: Irrespective of what Yudhishtira will say, Draupadi has been following the path of adharma by living with 5 husbands. She deserves the life of a servant only.

Yudhishtira's answer: (silence)

Bhima's answer: Yudhishtira is the lord of our lives. If he considers himself a slave, then we are also slaves. But it is highly improper to stake a woman, that too one's own wife. Draupadi does not deserve such treatment. Professional gamblers have in their houses women of loose character. Even they don't stake such women.

Arjuna's answer: Dharma insists that one should follow the dictates of one's virtuous elder brother. Yudhishtira is not guilty of the vice of gambling, as against his own will he was forced to play at dice with Shakuni, after being summoned by King Dhritarashtra. Kshatriya code of conduct demands that he should follow such summons. The rest of the incidents merely followed course due to the immorality of our foes. Yudhishtira was certainly our master, before he began to play. But once he lost himself, whose master could he be? Let the assembly judge.

Vikarna's answer: Due to these 4 reasons, I consider Draupadi a free woman
1) Gambling itself is a vice. The acts of a man addicted to gambling (Yudhishtira here) and thereby loses his sense and reason, cannot be considered to have any authority.
2) Draupadi is the common wife of all 5 Pandavas, not of Yudhishtira alone.
3) The moment Yudhishtira lost himself, he immediately loses the right to stake anyone else.
4) It is upon the prompting of Shakuni, that Yudhishtira staked Draupadi.

Krishna's answer: Had I been there, I would have prevented the game of dice itself. What happened was the gross adharma. Unfortunately I was at the time engrossed in the war with Salva.

Balarama's answer: It is all Yudhishtira's fault. He should now seek to placate Duryodhana with nice words, and seek to live with whatever Duryodhana in his magnanimity gives.