Gambling hymn in Rig Veda - What can it tell us about the society?
[10-034] HYMN XXXIV. Dice, Etc.
(Tranlation of Griffith)
Dearer to me the die that never slumbers than the deep draught of Mujavan's own Soma.
2 She never vexed me nor was angry with me, but to my friends and me was ever gracious.
For the die's sake, whose single point is final, mine own devoted wife I alienated.
3 My wife holds me aloof, her mother hates me: the wretched man finds none to give him comfort.
As of a costly horse grown old and feeble, I find not any profit of the gamester.
4 Others caress the wife of him whose riches the die hath coveted, that rapid courser:
Of him speak father, mother, brothers saying, We know him not: bind him and take him with you.
5 When I resolve to play with these no longer, my friends depart from me and leave me lonely.
When the brown dice, thrown on the board, have rattled, like a fond girl I seek the place of meeting.
6 The gamester seeks the gambling-house, and wonders, his body all afire, Shall I be lucky?
Still do the dice extend his eager longing, staking his gains against his adversary.
7 Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe.
They give frail gifts and then destroy the man who wins, thickly anointed with the player's fairest good.
8 Merrily sports their troop, the three-and-fifty, like Savitar the God whose ways are faithful.
They bend not even to the mighty's anger: the King himself pays homage and reveres them.
9 Downward they roll, and then spring quickly upward, and, handless, force the man with hands to serve them.
Cast on the board, like lumps of magic charcoal, though cold themselves they bum the heart to ashes.
10 The gambler's wife is left forlorn and wretched: the mother mourns the son who wanders homeless.
In constant fear, in debt, and seeking riches, he goes by night unto the home of others.
11 Sad is the gambler when he sees a matron, another's wife, and his well-ordered dwelling.
He yokes the brown steeds in the early morning, and when the fire is cold sinks down an outcast.
12 To the great captain of your mighty army, who hath become the host's imperial leader,
To him I show my ten extended fingers: I speak the truth. No wealth am I withholding.
13 Play not with dice: no, cultivate thy corn-land. Enjoy the gain, and deem that wealth sufficient.
There are thy cattle there thy wife, O gambler. So this good Savitar himself hath told me.
14 Make me your friend: show us some little mercy. Assail us not with your terrific fierceness.
Appeased be your malignity and anger, and let the brown dice snare some other captive.
Who would have thought that over 4000 years ago, women were deeply valued in Indian society. The above hymn from Rig Veda (10-34, Dice) is proof of not only that fact but also that gambling as a pastime not only existed in what probably was a settled and peaceful society but also advises any future generations of people to avoid gambling. Why did Veda Vyasa who is considered to be the compiler of Vedas thought it wise to include a warning on the ills of gambling in Rig Veda which are prayers to the then gods of the people is a question that we may never be able to answer with complete satisfaction. This beautiful hymn, warns of the humiliations that can result from addiction to gambling. It can be similar to the warnings on smoking that can be seen today. The hymn generally outlines the consequences of addiction to gambling in a rather graphic manner. Was this hymn used to remove the evil spell the dice has cast on a person. The last lines seems to indicate that. It is sort of a plea to the dice not to destroy the life of the person addicted to gambling. Could it mean that gambling was such a major social evil during those times?
Gambling is a phenomenon that evidently existed during the times of Rig Veda. What other aspects of the society can this hymn tell us?
Women: A closer look reveals that the gambler repents the loss of relationships especially the women. The very fact that he mentions his wife and his mother repeatedly shows the importance he attaches to them and their value in his life. The loss of self-esteem due to these losses can also be seen. Wife and mother are sources of comfort during difficult times. This is why the poet cries that both the women of his life do not give him any comfort and he feels like a costly old horse that is incapable of being productive. The wife of the gambler has to feed him without bringing her any money.
A person whose has lost his wealth due to gambling also will have his wife desired and approached by other men. It follows the logic that a person unable to protect his wealth will not be able to protect his wife from the advances of other men. It follows that wife is seen as wealth or something of great value. Be that it may, this line is not because the wife was pledged as there is mention of its occurrences in the Mahabharata. The poet completely realizes that his wife initially tolerated his gambling and the sessions they had at their home along with his friends and it was his addiction that pushed his wife away. This line is filled with regret for his loss.
Family: Joint family is also indicated with the parents of a married man and his brothers staying together. Interestingly, children are not mentioned here. This probably indicates either the gambler has not yet had children or the children are too young to be noticed. In either case, the gambler is most probably a young man. Other things that indicate the gambler's youth is the fact that he is told by Savitur ( his family deity presumably) that earning through hard work without greed is the best way to live. Also, the fact that he has much to lose. His cattle and wife are indicated to be his wealth.
Money: Bringing in money to feed was definitely considered to be the duty of the man of the house. The man of the family is expected to work in the field, grow crops ( in this case corn), and bring wealth. Thus the advice that don't gamble, don't be greedy for wealth. Wealth is not indicated by the number of cows. It is money. It is not a barter system of exchange. There must have been a currency. Social status is also seen as important when the poet mentions another man's house that looks good. ( Because of the poet's financial ruin, he is not in a position to do repairs to his house and so it does not look well-ordered. Thus a good looking house was considered a sign of prosperity. Being poor is a sign of personal failure.
Friends: Interestingly, the gambler mentions that he feels lonely without his friends who stop visiting him once he stops gambling. The gambler doesnt mention that his friends are going through the same ordeal.
Law and Order: The law and order situation also is worth mentioning. The mention of the poet being arrested indicates that there must have been a professional army cum police in the society that would protect the land against enemies and domestic law breakers. The family refuses to take responsibility for the gambler when the law and order personnel come to arrest him. That it is so similar to the modern arrest made by police is fascinating. The then lawmen come with a rope and ties him to take him away also indicates a prison system or at the very least, a punitive action being taken on the gambler because of non payment of debt accrued during his gambling spells.
Horse: Let us turn our attention to the old horse analogy. Generally speaking, analogies are given so that it is easy to explain one's point. And by mentioning horses, it is evident that whoever the poet is addressing to, the person or persons completely relates to it. That means the horses were common and was probably expensive. Why is an horse expensive? Obviously it is economics101. Supply is lower than demand. In other words, horses were common but expensive. Just like finding cars on today's roads. Additionally what more can you deduce? Once the horse is old, it is not put down. So horse meat was not eaten. It was not sellable. It just remained in the stable. You have to incur cost to feed it it it dies of natural causes. Then why buy a horse? It is because of the need for fast travel.
Taken together, this hymn shows a society that is just like a modern society where all the right ticks can be marked. How can this society belong to pastoralists? Where does it show these people came from one place and settled in another?
Look at the following:
1. Greedy men gambling away their wealth
2. Wives and mothers are valued
3. Financial order is maintained
4. Laws are enforced or punishment given to those that break the law
5. Expensive vehicles are imported
Is it any different from today?
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