Is gambling considered righteous or is it a sin?
Are Kshatriyas allowed to gamble?
Do Kshatriyas have accept a gambling invitation compulsarily? (The Mahabaratha answer seems to say so)
Is addiction to gambling righteous?
Who are all the characters from different Hindu stories that gambled?
Please quote different scriptures.
I already asked a question on gambling in Mahabharata, but this is for all other scriptures and Hinduism in general.
It is described in Rigveda Mandala 10, Sukta 34. You can read HYMN XXXIV. Dice, Etc.
Quoting couple of verses that show the adverse effects of gambling and advice not to gamble.
जाया तप्यते कितवस्य हीना माता पुत्रस्य चरतः क्व स्वित्।
ऋणावा बिभ्यद्धनमिच्छमानोऽन्येषामस्तमुप नक्तमेति॥ १०.०३४.१०10 The gambler's wife is left forlorn and wretched: the mother mourns the son who wanders homeless.
अक्षैर्मा दीव्यः कृषिमित्कृषस्व वित्ते रमस्व बहु मन्यमानः।
तत्र गावः कितव तत्र जाया तन्मे वि चष्टे सवितायमर्यः॥ १०.०३४.१३13 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.
Gambling is a vice. It is considered as a sin.
As far as a Kshatriya king and gambling is concerned, he should avoid it carefully as one of the vices.
MS 7.45. Let him carefully shun the ten vices, springing from love of pleasure, and the eight, proceeding from wrath, which (all) end in misery.
in the above verse, "He" refers to a King. Now, the ten vices which are mentioned in the following verse, includes among them, gambling.
MS 7.47. Hunting, gambling, sleeping by day, censoriousness, (excess with) women, drunkenness, (an inordinate love for) dancing, singing, and music, and useless travel are the tenfold set (of vices) springing from love of pleasure.
Gambling and betting are criminal offences too and the King should punish the offenders just like he punishes the thieves.
MS 9.221. Gambling and betting let the king exclude from his realm; those two vices cause the destruction of the kingdoms of princes.
MS 9.222. Gambling and betting amount to open theft; the king shall always exert himself in suppressing both (of them).
MS 9.224. Let the king corporally punish all those (persons) who either gamble and bet or afford (an opportunity for it), likewise Sudras who assume the distinctive marks of twice-born (men).
MS 9.228. On every man who addicts himself to that (vice) either secretly or openly, the king may inflict punishment according to his discretion
The only place where i found gambling being allowed is in the following verse:
In the middle of the assembly hall he should erect a gaming table, sprinkle it with water, and place there dice–– they should be in pairs, of Vibhitaka seeds,* and in adequate numbers. Aryas who are upright and honest may gamble there. Weapons contests, dancing, singing, and concerts should not be held without the presence of royal officials.
AD 2.26.8
But, every where else it is mentioned as immoral, a sin, not recommended etc.
Next, sins that make people sordid: gambling; sorcery; living by gleaning on the part of a man who has not established the sacred fires; begging alms food by a man who has returned home from his teacher’s, as well as his residing at his teacher’s house for more than four months;
BD 2.2.24
As an interesting side note it can be mentioned that, as per Manu Smriti, gambling arises from the third ( and the lowest) state of Rajas ( with Sattva= Goodness, Rajas= Passion or activity, Tamas=Inertia , ignorance- the Trigunas).
MS 12.45. Ghallas, Mallas, Natas, men who subsist by despicable occupations and those addicted to gambling and drinking (form) the lowest (order of) conditions caused by Activity.
Abbreviations used:
MS= The Manu Smriti.
AD= Apasthambha Dharmasutras.
BD= Baudhayana Dharmasutras.
2) Kings can't decline a gambling challenge or request according to Dharma. `
Gambling is considered the supreme among cheaters. Hence, if "cheating" is a vice, then "gambling" could be highest among the vices.
द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि ...
BG 10.36 - Among cheaters I am Gambling ...
Same is echoed during Sabha Parva, during Draupadi's insult:
Vidura said,--"Gambling is the root of dissensions. It bringeth about disunion. Its consequences are frightful. ... This fascination (of gambling) that thou has well-devised only leadeth to dire results.
And Vikarna ... the prince said -- 'Ye kings of the earth, ye Kauravas, whether ye answer this question or not, I will say what I regard as just and proper. Ye foremost of men, it hath been said that hunting, drinking, gambling, and too much enjoyment of women, are the four vices of kings.
Gamgling = unprescribed way of taking chances
In old times, gambling used to happen with the games of dices like "dyut". Apart from Yudhishtira, another example is of "Nala-Damayanti", who faced dire consequences of gambling by losing kingdom.
Though it's extended in the similar forms today as well, it's not limited to it.
2) Kings can't decline a gambling challenge or request according to Dharma. Look at the Mahabaratha gamebling question. hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/21457/…