Does Hinduism promote Gambling?

I am writing this blog in response to another bogus blog of Vedkabhed:- Gambling in Hinduism. 

Hindu Scriptures on Gambling

First of all, let me tell you that gambling is a rajas sin in Hinduism.

Manusmriti 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 (rajas).

 

What is a rajas sin? It is a sin which harms the sinner and not affect much to others. Sins like alcohol consumption, gambling etc. harms the sinner and not others. These things are critisized in Hinduism but not prohibited. For example; Indian constitution promise to oppose alcohol consumption but it is not prohibited completely because these things are one's personal choice. Simply hindu scriptures critisize gambling but not prohibit it completely. In Hinduism, one is free to do anything with his money and if he will gamble, he will do his own destruction. There are many places where gambling is critisized,

Baudhayana Dharmasutra 2:2:24. 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;

Gambling is considered one of the 10 vices one should avoid.

Manusmriti 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.

In Sabha Parva LXII, Vidura said that gambling is the root cause of all sins.

"Vidura said,--"Gambling is the root of dissensions. It bringeth about disunion. Its consequences are frightful.

In Sabha Parva LXVII, Vikarna also said that a king should avoid gambling.

 '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.

The author gave some refrences which say that gambling was allowed in some conditions. As I already said hinduism doesn't prohibit gambling but it critisize it. Today, business investments are also like gambling but they are not considered wrong. Similarly, gambling was allowed in gambling house as said in Apastamba Dhamrasutra etc. but elsewhere, it is prohibited. 

Manusmriti 9:221. Gambling and betting let the king exclude from his realm; those two vices cause the destruction of the kingdoms of princes.

222. Gambling and betting amount to open theft; the king shall always exert himself in suppressing both (of them).

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).

225. Gamblers, dancers and singers, cruel men, men belonging to an heretical sect, those following forbidden occupations, and sellers of spirituous liquor, let him instantly banish from his town.

227. In a former Kalpa this (vice of) gambling has been seen to cause great enmity; a wise man, therefore, should not practise it even for amusement.

228. On every man who addicts himself to that (vice) either secretly or openly, the king may inflict punishment according to his discretion.

227th verse clearly commands a wise person to not gamble. Even Rigveda 10:34 tells about the side effects of gambling;

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.

Now when even Rigveda forbids the gambling, only a fool can say that hinduism promotes gambling.The second thing is that word dyut (द्युत) is usually translated as gambling but it has various meanings like war, game, loot, contest etc. Dyut (द्युत) was actually a word for board game but many people started gambling in dice game, for example, many people gamble in card games but every card game is not gambling. Similarly many people used to play board games just for enjoyment without any involvement of money in the same way we play ludo which is also a dice game.

Note:- I am not going to give any response for Charm/Talisman/Ritual to secure success in Gambling because I think this response is enough for that too.

Gods Playing Game of Dice

To prove Lord Krishna a gambler, he gave refrence of Srimad Bhagavatam 10.62.28-31, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.66.36, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.56.5, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.69.19-22 etc. You can read the translation he gave for these scriptures. Everywhere the word game of dice is used there. Even today children and adults play dice game like ludo which is a direct inspiration of chausar but it can't be referred as gambling. I don't know how the author concluded it as gambling. Then he gave the refrence for Balarama and Indra. First of all Indra is a demigod not god. This thing I will make clear in my next blog. And as I already said even though gambling is considered bad it was not prohibited. I already gave refrences that gambling is critisized in scriptures. Now as I clarified all the misconceptions regarding Gambling in Hinduism, hope you I liked it. Please share my blog so that more and more people will read it. Jai Shri Krishna 🙏🙏