MATH or MAGIC!

Mahabharata: Vana Parva: Chapter 79 extract

Vrihadasva said to king Yudhishthira: "O great king, thou also wilt with thy kindred and relatives, so blaze forth in effulgence soon. It was thus that king Nala had fallen into distress along with his wife, in consequence of dice. Nala suffered such dire woe all alone and recovered his prosperity, whereas thou, O son of Pandu, with heart fixed on virtue, art sporting in joy in this great forest, accompanied by thy brothers and queen Draupadi. When thou art also associating daily with blessed brahmanas versed in the Vedas and their branches, thou hast little cause for sorrow."

"This history, besides, of the naga Karkotaka, of Damayanti, of Nala and of that royal sage Rituparna, is destructive of evil. And, O thou of unfading glory, this history, destructive of the influence of Kali, is capable, O king, of comforting persons like thee when they listen to it. And reflecting upon the uncertainty (of success) of human exertion, it behoveth thee not to joy or grieve at prosperity or adversity. Having listened to this history, be comforted, O king, and yield not to grief. It behoveth thee not, O great king, to pine under calamity. Indeed, men of self-possession, reflecting upon the caprice of destiny and the fruitlessness of exertion, never suffer themselves to be depressed."

"They that will repeatedly recite this noble history of Nala, and they that will hear it recited, will never be touched by adversity. He that listeneth to this old and excellent history hath all his purposes crowned with success and, without doubt, obtaineth fame, besides sons and grandsons and animals, a high position among men, and health, and joy."

"O king, the fear also that thou entertainest, (that is, someone skilled in dice will summon you to play again), I will dispel once and for all. I know the science of dice in its entirety. I am gratified with thee; take this science, I will tell thee, O son of Kunti."

King Yudhishthira then, with a glad heart, said unto Vrihadasva: "O illustrious one, I desire to learn the science of dice from thee." The rishi then gave his knowledge of dice unto the high-souled son of Pandu, and having given it unto him, that great ascetic went to the sacred waters of Hayasirsha for a bath.