One sordid aspect of gambling is that it can make inroads into otherwise harmless and pleasant pastimes. Take, for instance, the game of cricket. With England as its home, it was essentially understood as an activity that gentlemen indulged in, and largely for entertainment. Over time, however, it unfortunately degenerated into an irresistible attraction for inveterate gamblers.

The danger of a pastime, primarily meant for pleasure, degenerating into an addiction that leads to disaster, is also illustrated in some Hindu epics.

For example, in Mahabharata, Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandava brothers, is renowned for his unwavering commitment to Dharma or righteousness. And, typical of most of the characters in that remarkable narrative, he has a minor weakness, in the shape of the tem

See Full Page