The morals of the Ancient Aryans were no better than their
religion. The Aryans were a race of gamblers. Gambling was developed by them into a
science in very early days of the Aryan civilization so much so that they had even devised
the dice and given them certain technical terms. The luckiest dice was called Krit and the
unluckiest was called Kali. Treta and Dwapara were intermediate between them. Not only was
gambling well developed among the ancient Aryans but they did not play without stakes.
They gambled with such abandon that there is really no comparison with their spirit of
gambling. Kingdoms and even wives were offered as stakes at gambling. King Nala staked his
kingdom and lost it. The Pandvas went much beyond. They not only staked their kingdom but
they also staked their wife, Draupadi, and lost both. Among the Aryans gambling was not
the game of the rich. It was a vice of the many.
The ancient Aryans were also a race of drunkards. Wine
formed a most essential part of their religion. The Vedic Gods drank wine. The divine wine
was called Soma. Since the Gods of the Aryans drank wine the Aryans had no scruples in the
matter of drinking. Indeed to drink it was a part of an Aryan's religious duty. There were
so many Soma sacrifices among the ancient Aryans that there were hardly any days when Soma
was not drunk. Soma was restricted to only the three upper classes, namely, the Brahmins,
the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas. That does not mean the Shudras were abstainers. Those who
were denied Soma drank Sura which was ordinary, unconsecrated wine sold in the market. Not
only the Male Aryans were addicted to drinking but the females also indulged in drinking.
The Kaushitaki Grihya Sutra 1.11.12 advises that four or eight women who are not widowed
after having been regaled with wine and food should be called to dance for four times on
the night previous to the wedding ceremony. This habit of drinking intoxicating liquor was
not confined to the Non-Brahmin women. Even Brahmin women were addicted to it. Drinking
was not regarded as a sin. It was not even a vice, it was quite a respectable practice.
The Rig-Veda says:
"Worshipping the Sun before drinking Madira
(wine)." The Yajur-Veda says:
" Oh, Deva Soma! being strengthened and invigorated by
Sura (wine), by thy pure spirit please the Devas; give juicy food to the sacrificer and
vigour to Brahmanas and Kshatriyas." The Mantra Brahmana says:
" By which women have been made enjoyable by men, and
by which water has been transformed into wine (for the enjoyment of men), etc."
That Rama and Sita both drank wine is admitted by the
Ramayana. Utter Khand says:
" Like Indra in the case of (his wife) Shachi, Rama
Chandra made Sita drink purified honey made wine. Servants brought for Rama Chandra meat
and sweet fruits."
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So did Krishna and Arjuna. In the Udyoga Parva of the
Mahabharat Sanjaya says:
"Arjuna and Shri Krishna drinking wine made from honey
and being sweet-scented and garlanded, wearing splendid clothes and ornaments, sat on a
golden throne studded with various jewels. I saw Shrikrishna's feet on Arjuna's lap, and
Arjuna's feet on Draupadi and Satyabhama's lap."