Thirukkural on GAMBLING

THIRUVALLUVAR on Gambling.

Thiruvalluvar says, even if a person is capable of winning, he should not desire to gamble.  The first winning will be so tempting , it will compel  to continue till everything is lost. Winning will act like a bait (worms) kept on the hook (தூண்டில் முள் ) to capture a fish.

The fish that bites the bait ( worm) kept on the hook,  

would get captured .
Like this winning would tempt to continue  till every thing is lost.

So, even if  capable of winning,  one should  not gamble.

வேண்டற்க வென்றிடினும் சூதினை வென்றதூம்

தூண்டிற்பொன் மீன் விழுங்கி அற்று (931)

Gambling is found in the world  from the time immemorial. In Mahabharata, Dharmaraja known for his noble and gentle qualities gambled.  First he lost his property, then palaces, then lands, then servants, then brothers, finally, he was asked to bet his wife Draupati. In those days wives were the properties of husbands. He lost his wife. Dharmaraja known for all virtues became a victim of the gambling.

Los Vegas of US is a sin city known for gambling in Casinos.These Casinos are big restaurants providing variety of gambling. It is said that these are adrenaline fuelled gambling centres that attrack millions of people every year. We stayed in Venetian Casino in Los Vegas, it is an Italian type luxury hotel with European environment. The spirit of Venice is brought alive in it. Everywhere luxury, the door handles of the rest room are gold plated. The items kept in the fridge are automatically billed when taken out.

Slot machines are the most popular form of gambling in Casinos.They are rolling machines . Hundreds of them are placed in a big semi dark  hall in every Casino. Some gambling currencies are given free by the hotel authorities to tempt the visitors to gamble. I entered and occupied a slot machine. It was very easy to operate, I used the currencies given  and started gambling. I won  a few times. It was so tempting, I purchased gambling currencies for another 100 dollars. 

Call girls dressed in mini skirts and low cut tops move round with a tray hanging from their necks ( remember, it is the sin city of the world). Trays contained free coke, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. In spite of winning a few times, I lost all the dollars . The machines are so cunningly calipered, one  would never gain but lose something or everything. Thiruvalluvar says,  " By winning one , hundred is lost in gambling. " ( ஒன்று எய்தி, நூறு இழக்கும் ). 

Apart from slot machines, gambling like poker, black jack, craps, baccarat, roulette are available. People entering like emperors return empty handed like beggars . Gambling in Casinos is so tempting,  even  strong minded  will find very difficult to get up from  the intoxicating slot machines. In Casinos , as Thiruvalluvar said, " gaining one and losing hundred "  is absolutely true.

Thiruvalluvar asks this in a kural,

" Is there happy living for a person involved in

gambling who gains one and loses hundred ? " ( Kural 932 )

ஒன்று எய்தி நூறு இழக்கும் சூதர்க்கும் உண்டாம்கொல்

நன்று எய்தி வாழ்வதோர் ஆறு.(932)

( ஒன்று எய்தி நூறு இழக்கும் = Gaining one and losing hundred )

Horse race  is an equestrian gambling. Ancient times chariot race  of Greek and Rome took the shape of modern horse race. In India, horse race is a legacy of British rule. Tamil Nadu Government abolished it in 1986 but Supreme court gave clearance by naming  it, " a game of  skill. "  After this verdict ,  Horse Race  resurrected  in Tamil Nadu. 

Once, horse race was a gambling of rich but today,  during the race,  the auto drivers  park autos in hundreds  in front of the Turf . Many had become paupers . I know a person who always used to say , " just missed the Jackpot ", finally he became almost a beggar and declared insolvency. He was nicknamed , ' Jackpot Jerry ' ,  during his last days, became insane , roaming about  everywhere murmuring, " I  just missed the Jackpot ". ( In horse race, Jackpot brings a huge return. ) 

Thiruvalluvar says ,

A person addicted to the rolling dice ( gambling ) ,

if gambles continuously,  

will allow his wealth to go away to other's hand. (933)

உருளாயம் ஒவாது கூறின் பொருளாயம்

போஒய்ப் புறமே படும்.( 339)

உருளாயம் = gambling dice. பொருளாயம் = wealth.  போஒய்ப் புறமே படும் = go away to other's hand

In 1970-ies, " lottery gambling " entered into Indian states and  affected the life of many. Bhutan and Sikkim introduced online lottery and looted the  common man's purse. 

I was owning a printing press in 1970-ies. I had a composer who was a  very bad addict to lottery gambling. His dream was not to win in crores but in lakhs to  buy a  printing press and sit in the owner's seat. Occasionally , he used to win but never more than five hundred rupees.  inspired by this meagre gain, he used to  borrow money to purchase more  tickets. Only when Karnataka State abolished lottery in 1998, he became a responsible family head. Lottery has  not been  completely abolished till to-day in all the states of India. Different states have different laws governing lottery. 

Matka is a gambling involving  numbers, it originated in Bombay ( Mumbai). It had ruined the life of many daily wagers. Money is handled by bookies called  Khaiwals, who are controlled by criminals . In 2008 , the Bombay Matka king Suresh Bhagat was killed in a road accident. His wife Jaya and son Hitesh were arrested on the charges of killing Bhagat in an engineered accident. According to police, both of them along with five others conspired to kill Bhagat to capture the huge matka empire. Later on this case was dropped.

Online gambling is an another addiction, there are large number of  online gambling which offer Casino games like Roulette, Bingo , etc.

Frank Sarakakis of Greece lost 16 million dollars in 1994 in a Roulette game in London. Roulette is a gambling involving deeply complex guessing. It is a gambling wherein a huge amount can be lost in no time. In Los Vegas within a few seconds,  Roulette gambling makes many rich people homeless and nameless. ( In Roulette, there are variety of betting options, a gambler can make more bets, according to probability, in  Roulette, " more bets a gambler makes,  more he will lose independent of  the strategies  adopted." )

Cricket betting and match fixing, in spite of heavy restrictions,  remains unabated. According to the reports, Cricket betting  in India amounts to well over US$ 5 billion annually.

Whatever may be the type of gambling , Thiruvalluvar says, the gamblers will ultimately lose  five important assets, 

Dress, wealth, food, glory, learning, all these five, 

will depart from those who are addicted to gambling. (939)
 உடை, செல்வம், ஊன், ஒளி, கல்வி என்று ஐந்தும்

அடையாவாம் ஆயம் கோளின் (939)

Even though Thiruvalluvar had said it  2000 years ago,

it holds good even to-day.

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Comments:

YOUR ARTICLE ON GAMBLING IS SIMPLY EXCELLENT AND EDUCATIVE

IN FACT WHEN I MADE MY FIRST VISIT TO USA LAST SEPTEMBER MY COUSIN TOOK ME TO LAKE CHARLES AND I THOUGHT THEY ARE TAKING ME TO SEE

A LAKE

IN FACT THERE IS A HUGE AND BEAUTIFUL LAKE BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE THERE IS A HUGE HOTEL WHICH IS  A CASINO AND HAS A GAMBLING

I JUST PLAYED FOR FUN OF 50 DOLLARS AND GAINED FIFTY DOLLARS AND PLAYED AGAIN 50 DOLLARS AND LOST EVERYTHING AND I STOPPED

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID AND WE SHOULD BOW IS REVERENCE TO THE GREAT TAMIL SAINT THIRUVALLUVAR

EXCELLENT ARTICLE  BY YOU AND THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN

MAY GOD BLESS YOU

regards

m.s.sundararajan

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It is amazing that Valluvar thought of these things, like you said, about two thousand years back and they are valid for ever. His range of topics covered is also impressive. Your explanations are focussed and lucid and make it possible for even someone like me to follow Kural. No wonder it is called Tamil Marai that we can go back to again and again.

You probably know it already. The native Indians land is soverign outside the jurisdiction of the local law. They are called "reservations" and have many gaming parlours managed by consultants who are non-Indian. Some are also tribe managed. Lot of money is made by a few "leaders" but sadly the economic and social condition of the average Indian is very poor. They have a high incidence of alcoholism and unemplopyment. And then there are offshore gambling ships. You are taken by boat on "cruises" just outside international waters a few miles into the ocean where local laws do not operate. The vessels return to shore the same day.

The crooks are always one step ahead!

Pattabhi Sankaran

USA

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