Pushkara

Yudhishthira, still grieving after Bhima's outburst, asks the newly arrived sage Brihadashva if there has ever been a king more miserable than himself. The sage tells him there was — a king named Nala, who lost everything to deceit and lived in the forest with only his wife — and yet Yudhishthira still has his brothers and his brahmanas.

For twelve years, the demon Kali waits in the land of the Nishadhas, watching King Nala for a single moment of ritual carelessness. When Nala performs his evening ceremony without washing his feet first, Kali finds his opening — and the ruin of a kingdom begins.

Pushkara challenges his brother Nala to dice, and Nala — possessed by Kali — cannot refuse. Over months of gambling, he loses silver, gold, vehicles, and garments while Damayanti watches helplessly, and no well-wisher can stop him from throwing the next throw.

After his charioteer abandons him, Nala gambles away everything — his kingdom, his riches, everything except Damayanti. When Pushkara mockingly suggests staking her next, Nala's rage finally breaks through his despair. He strips off his ornaments, leaves the city in a single garment with Damayanti following, and spends three nights outside, surviving on water alone.

Pushkara, his eyes red with anger, demands that Nala stake everything. Nala smiles and accepts. In a single throw, Pushkara loses his entire kingdom, his treasures, and his life. But Nala does not kill him — he embraces him as a brother and sends him away in peace.

With Bhima’s permission and a small army, Nala returns to Nishadha and confronts his brother Pushkara. He offers a single stake: all his new wealth, Damayanti, and his life — against the kingdom. Pushkara, certain of victory, laughs and accepts the dice game.