Brihadashva Consoles Yudhishthira with Nala's Tale

Brihadashva reached the end of his story. Nala had regained his kingdom. Damayanti had returned to him with their children. The king who had lost everything to dice — his kingdom, his wife, his very mind — now lived in happiness, like the king of the gods in Nandana. He performed sacrifices, gave away dakshina (gifts to priests), and became famous among all the kings of Jambudvipa. Brihadashva turned to Yudhishthira. "O bull among the Bharata lineage! Thus did Nala, the destroyer of enemy cities, confront this kind of unhappiness, together with his wife, because of gambling. He was alone, and he suffered this terrible and great grief. But he regained his prosperity." Then he looked at the Pandava king, surrounded by his brothers and Draupadi, living in the forest. "O Pandava! You are accompanied by your brothers and Krishna. Thinking about dharma, you are enjoying yourself in this great forest. The immensely fortunate brahmanas, learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, are always with you. Where is the cause for sorrow?" He told Yudhishthira what the story of Nala could do. It brings about the destruction of Kali — the spirit of the gambling age that had seized Yudhishthira and stripped him of everything. Those who recount it and those who listen to it are never confronted by calamity. They obtain riches. Prosperity flows toward them. They gain sons, grandsons, animals, and an exalted position among men. They are without disease. They find happiness. "Thinking that human prosperity is always transient," Brihadashva said, "you should not sorrow over its coming and going." Then he made an offer Yudhishthira had not expected. "O king! I will destroy the fear that you see — that you may be challenged again by someone skilled with dice. I know the heart of dice. Truth is your valour and I am pleased with you. O Kounteya! I will tell you. Learn it from me."