[occurrini]

Yudhishtira's answer: (silence)


Yudhishtira was the son of Dharma and also Dharma incarnate. He was the most magnanimous, hence the most unfortunate in the whole episode. Some time before the gambling incident Veda Vyasa secretly visits Yudhishtira and tells him that, in 13 yrs time, he will become direct cause of a great battle with the Kauravas, resulting in wholesale destruction of Kshatriyas. Deeply aggrieved, Yudhishtira takes a solemn vow never to disagree with anyone else, and especially with the Kauravas. That was why, despite a lot of misgivings, he accepted the invitation for gambling and also controlled his anger in the most provocative circumstances, carefully trying, not to become, in word or deed, a cause of enmity to the Kauravas! He carried his circumspection well and remained silent throughout the episode. But being a dharmic person, he placed trust in the Assembly consisting of veterans like Bhishma etc. He secretly messages to Draupadi to come to the assembly in a single dress, and to attract the sympathy of the leaders of the Assembly like Bhishma Drona Kripa. While trying not to become a direct cause of confrontation, he was all along hoping that the grandsires would intervene in the right time and halt the proceedings before they become worse. As destiny would have it, his very silence becomes his downfall...