Question

Arrange the following fragments from the opening verse of the Aksha Sukta (The Gambler's Lament, Rigveda 10.34.1) in the correct sequence:
A. pravātejā niśṛṇe varvutānāḥ (Born in a windy place, rolling on the play-board)
B. somasyeva maujavatasya bhakṣaḥ (Like a draught of the Soma from Mount Mujavat)
C. bṛhato mādayanti (Born of the high [tree], they intoxicate me)
D. prāvepā mā (The trembling ones...)
E. vibhīdako jāgurvir-mahyam-acchān (The Vibhidaka nut has kept me awake and delighted me)

• A. E, B, A, C, D
• B. D, C, A, B, E
• C. B, D, C, A, E
• D. A, B, C, D, E

Hint:

In Aksha Sukta questions, remember the "Intoxication Trio": Dice (Aksha) $\approx$ Wine/Soma $\approx$ Addict. Look for the "Mujavat Soma" (B) reference as a middle-verse identifier.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Aksha Sukta (Rigveda 10.34) is one of the most remarkable "secular" or "humanistic" hymns in the Rigveda. Unlike most hymns that praise deities for rituals, this is the psychological monologue of a gambler who has lost his wealth, his home, and his wife to the dice (Akshas). The brown nuts of the Vibhidaka tree were used as dice in ancient India. This question requires the reconstruction of the very first stanza (verse 1), which establishes the gambler's addiction.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The complete opening verse (RV 10.34.1) reads:
\[ \text{"prāvepā mā bṛhato mādayanti pravātejā niśṛṇe varvutānāḥ |"} \]
\[ \text{"somasyeva maujavatasya bhakṣo vibhīdako jāgurvir-mahyam-acchān ||"} \]

Mapping the fragments to the verse:
1. D (Prāvepā mā): "The trembling ones..." (referring to the dice as they are shaken and rolled).
2. C (Bṛhato mādayanti): "...[those born] of the high tree intoxicate me." The dice were made from the nuts of the tall Bibhitaki tree.
3. A (Pravātejā niśṛṇe varvutānāḥ): "...born in a windy place, rolling down on the play-board." This describes the physical motion and the origin of the nuts.
4. B (Somasyeva maujavatasya bhakṣaḥ): "...like a draught of the Soma from Mount Mujavat." The gambler compares the thrill of gambling to the spiritual intoxication of the best Soma, which was traditionally harvested from the Mujavat mountain range.
5. E (Vibhīdako jāgurvir-mahyam-acchān): "...the Vibhidaka nut has kept me awake and delighted me." This concluding line expresses the bitter-sweet nature of his obsession.

The sequence D-C-A-B-E perfectly reconstructs this poetic masterpiece. The Aksha Sukta is frequently tested in NTA exams because it showcases the social life and individual psychological depth present in the 10th Mandala. The comparison to Soma (B) and the specific name of the tree (E) are high-yield keywords. This hymn serves as a moral warning, concluding with the famous advice from the god Savitr: "akṣairmā dīvyaḥ kṛṣimit kṛṣasva" (Do not play with dice; practice agriculture!).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct poetic sequence is D, C, A, B, E. Therefore, option (2) is correct.