Yudhishthira and Brihadashva

In the Dvaitavana forest, where Vedic chants mingle with the twang of Pandava bowstrings, the rishi Baka Dalbhya addresses Yudhishthira with a pointed counsel: a kshatriya without brahmanas is like an unrestrained elephant in battle. He urges the king to seek a wise, disciplined brahmana to acquire what he lacks and secure his future — citing the examples of Bali and Virochana's son to show what happens when that alliance is honored or broken.

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.

Damayanti has heard Bahuka's words and knows Nala is alive — but she needs to force him to reveal himself. She summons Sudeva and gives him a message for King Rituparna: Damayanti will hold a second svayamvara tomorrow morning, because Nala's fate is unknown.

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.

Brihadashva concludes the story of Nala, who lost everything to gambling and then regained it all. He draws a direct parallel to Yudhishthira's own exile, reminding him that prosperity is transient and that hearing Nala's tale brings blessings. Then he makes an unexpected offer: he will teach Yudhishthira the secrets of dice, to destroy his fear of ever being challenged again.

Yudhishthira, overjoyed at Brihadashva's offer, asks to learn the secrets of dice. The sage gives him the knowledge that will protect him from future challenges, then departs to bathe at Ashvashira. But no sooner has Brihadashva left than troubling news arrives about Arjuna.

In the desert, the maharshi Utanka performs severe austerities for years to worship Vishnu. When Vishnu appears and offers him a boon, Utanka asks only for devotion to dharma and truth. But Vishnu has more to reveal — a great asura named Dhundhu is performing terrible austerities for the destruction of the worlds, and a king will be needed to stop him.