The Untold Story of Gambling in Hinduism: From Rig Veda to Diwali Traditions

From Rig Veda hymns to Krishna’s playful dice, trace the dual face of Gambling in Hinduism with divine insights.

Gambling has always been a topic of fascination, controversy, and moral questioning. In modern India, debates over online gaming and betting laws often remind us of something much older – the fact that gambling has been a part of Indian society since the Vedic age. Hindu scriptures, stories of gods, and centuries of tradition have woven a rich yet complicated relationship with gambling. At times, it is condemned as a destructive vice; at other times, it is celebrated as a form of divine play.

Gambling in the Vedas – Condemnation and Encouragement

The earliest and clearest voice against gambling comes from the Rig Veda (10.34, Dyuta Sukta). This hymn describes the misery of a gambler: his wealth is lost, his wife scolds him, his friends desert him, and he lives in regret. The dice are described as seductive and destructive – leading a man away from dharma into ruin. The message is simple: gambling causes suffering.

But surprisingly, the Atharva Veda takes a different tone. It contains hymns and even spells to help gamblers win. Scholars believe this change shows that while the early Rigvedic Aryans were wary of gambling, later society began accepting it as entertainment, though still risky. This duality – both rejection and acceptance – has continued through Hindu texts.

अक्षासो मा दिव्याः कृतवो नितोदकाः।

अहं तेषां शरणं यदस्मि॥

Smritis and Lawmakers on Gambling

The lawgivers of ancient India also had differing views:

Manu Smriti: Manu strongly criticizes gambling and warns rulers against promoting it. For him, gambling was a source of social decay.

Yajnavalkya, Narada, Vasistha, and Kautilya (Chanakya): These thinkers, however, took a more practical approach. They allowed gambling houses to operate but only under the supervision of the state. Taxes were levied on winnings, cheating was punished severely, and disputes were to be settled by the king or other gamblers.

This shows a pragmatic approach. Completely banning gambling was seen as unrealistic; instead, the aim was to control and regulate it so society could function smoothly.

The Mahabharata: The Greatest Gambling in Hinduism

No discussion of gambling in Hinduism is complete without the Mahabharata. The game of dice between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana is perhaps the most famous gambling story in world literature.

Yudhishthira, known as dharmaraja, lost everything – his kingdom, his brothers, and even Draupadi – in a single game. Draupadi’s humiliation in the Kaurava court was the turning point that eventually led to the Kurukshetra war.

द्यूतेनैव हि राजेन्द्र नष्टं राज्यं युधिष्ठिरम्।

स्त्रियो धर्माश्च नष्टाश्च दुःखं च महदाविशत्॥

The lesson here is timeless: when gambling is driven by greed, pride, or weakness, it destroys families and nations.

Gods Who Played Dice

Yet, while gambling was condemned, many stories also show gods themselves playing dice. This is not meant to encourage gambling, but to show how divine play (lila) can be expressed in all aspects of life.

Shiva and Parvati – The Origin of Diwali Gambling

According to the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati once played a game of dice. Parvati prayed to Lakshmi for victory and defeated Shiva. She declared that gambling on the day of Diwali (Pratipada after Amavasya) would bring prosperity.

This is why many Hindus still play cards or dice on Diwali night, believing it invites Lakshmi Devi’s blessings. However, Parvati also limited it – gambling was auspicious only on that day, not throughout the year.

शिवेन क्रीडिता पार्वत्या सह द्यूतकेलया।

तत्रैव लीलया लक्ष्मीः प्रादुरासीद् द्युते शुभे॥

Since then, Hindus have believed that playing dice or cards on Diwali night is an auspicious ritual that pleases Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

Krishna – The Lord of Play

The Bhagavatam describes Lord Krishna playing dice with His queens, Uddhava, and even the gopīs. Sometimes He played in jest, sometimes He played merrily, and sometimes He was interrupted by urgent events while at play.

This shows the sweetness of Krishna’s pastimes. But it also raises a question: why didn’t Krishna stop the gambling match of Yudhishthira and Duryodhana? Perhaps because it was meant to teach humanity about the consequences of greed.

Balarama’s Rukhi: When Dice Became a Divine Play

Krishna’s elder brother Balarama was fond of gambling and once played with Rukmi, Krishna’s brother-in-law. When Rukmi tried to cheat, Balarama became furious and killed him with the very board they were playing on. The story again highlights gambling’s tendency to spark anger and violence.

Indra and the Devas

Indra, king of the gods, once gambled away the celestial nymph Urvashi. Even the gods were not free from the lure of dice. Such stories remind us that gambling represents maya (illusion), which can capture even the mighty.

Saints, Devotees, and Gambling

Not only gods but also some saints are described about gambling. In the Caitanya Caritamrita (Antya Lila 16.6-7), Kalidasa, a simple yet advanced devotee, used to chant Hare Krishna even while playing dice in jest. His heart was so pure that even dice became a medium of devotion.

Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, explained that for kshatriyas (warriors), refusing a challenge to gamble or fight was dishonorable. But for common people, gambling is one of the four pillars of sinful life and should be avoided.

Gambling as Devotion vs Gambling as Vice

So where do we stand? Hinduism presents two sides of gambling:

 As Vice: Scriptures like the Rig Veda and Mahabharata show how gambling leads to ruin, greed, and violence. Manu warns against it strongly.

 As Play (Lila): Gods like Shiva and Krishna played dice as divine sport. Saints like Kalidasa engaged in dice with the holy name on their lips.

Diwali gambling traditions link the game with prosperity and Lakshmi Devi’s blessings.

The balance lies in intention. If gambling is driven by greed and addiction, it is a path to destruction. If it is played in jest, with no stakes, or as part of divine remembrance, it can be harmless.

Conclusion: Dice or Dharma?

The untold story of gambling in Hinduism is not a simple “yes or no.” It is a story of balance, warning, and divine play.

 The Rig Veda shows its dangers.

 The Atharva Veda gives spells to win.

 The Smritis regulate it under kings.

 The Mahabharata gives the strongest warning.

 The Puranas tie it to festivals like Diwali.

 The Bhagavatam shows even Krishna and Balarama engaging in it.

For us today, the lesson is clear: gambling is not the way to lasting happiness. It may bring temporary thrill, but true wealth comes from Lakshmi’s grace through dharma and devotion. Playing dice on Diwali in remembrance of Shiva and Parvati is cultural tradition, but turning it into addiction is against dharma.

As Krishna Himself says in the Bhagavad Gita (10.36):

द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम्।

जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम्॥

“I am gambling among those who deceive; I am the splendor of the splendid, victory, resolve, and the goodness of the virtuous”

Gambling may glitter, but it deceives. Instead of putting our faith in dice, let us put our faith in the holy name of the Lord, which never deceives and always uplifts.

 The real game is not of dice, but of conquering the restless mind. Whoever wins that game, wins life itself.