"Mahamahim Bhishma, the esteemed Mahaguru Drona, the revered Kulguru Kripa, and the sagacious Mahamantri Vidur are en route," announced one of the soldiers with a touch of anticipation in his voice.

"The Yuvraj Duryodhan, the Gandharraj Shakuni, the astute Finance Minister Ashwathama, and the valiant Prince Dushasana are also making their way here. Emperor Yudhishthir enters accompanied by his younger brothers," the palace soldiers, in a sequential manner, revealed the arrival of the key figures in the grand hall where the fateful dice game was to commence.

"Paying my utmost respects, venerable sage. Paying my deepest respects, noble teacher. Paying my sincere respects, dear uncle," expressed the sons of Pandu in unison.

"May victory be yours," resonated the collective voice of the elders present, bestowing their well wishes.

In due course, Dhritarashtra made his appearance, taking his seat upon the throne. He turned to Sanjaya and inquired, "Have Yudhishthir and Duryodhan arrived?"

"All have assembled, my King. We eagerly await your command," responded Sanjaya with deference.

"Let the game commence," declared Dhritarashtra decisively.

"Shall we proceed, Brother?" queried Duryodhana.

"First, we must establish the rules, my son," interjected Shakuni, his tone assertive.

"Are the rules to be agreed upon solely between brothers, Uncle?" inquired Yudhishthira.

"A game is a game, my dear nephew. It is prudent to define the rules beforehand, ensuring harmony in the aftermath," advised Shakuni sagely.

"The stakes shall be mine, with my Uncle playing on my behalf," asserted Duryodhana.

"Why? If you lack the skill to roll the dice, why summon us to this contest?" questioned Arjuna, an undercurrent of reproach in his words.

"Does the Emperor fear facing Uncle?" jeered Ashwathama.

"It is not a question of fear, Ashwathama. The point is, neither war nor the dice can be engaged through proxies," reasoned Arjuna with conviction.

"Arjuna speaks the truth," affirmed Bhishma.

"You always side with Arjuna," complained Duryodhana, a note of resentment coloring his tone.

"There is no shame in losing a game," counseled Bhishma impartially.

"I speak not of shame, Pitamaha. But either my Uncle plays on my behalf or there shall be no game at all," insisted Duryodhana firmly.

"Provide me with one reason why this must be so, my son," requested Dhritarashtra.

"Because, father, I desire it to be so. If this is unacceptable, I shall withdraw," threatened Duryodhana.

"Very well, Duryodhana. Let your Uncle play on your behalf. Now, be seated and do not harbor anger," pacified Yudhishthira with a calming voice.

"Take a seat, nephew. I wager this invaluable necklace," announced Shakuni, presenting the precious adornment upon a tray.

"This is on my behalf," declared Yudhishthira as he carefully removed his own cherished necklace and placed it alongside Shakuni's offering.

"Proceed, Uncle," prompted Dushasan eagerly.

"Certainly," affirmed Shakuni with a gleam in his eye.

"Wait! A king bestows his soldier with a weapon. In this moment, you are Duryodhana's soldier. Thus, play with Duryodhana's dice," interjected Vidur.

"Very well, Duryodhana, relinquish your dice. In Hastinapur, trust is in short supply. Here, hand over the dice. Are you content now, Vidur?" retorted Shakuni, his words laced with mild sarcasm.

"No, Uncle. Play with your own dice, just as you did in Indraprastha," interjected Yudhishthira.

"No, Yudhishthir. Henceforth, I shall only employ Duryodhana's dice. Let the game commence," declared Shakuni.

"Nay, Uncle. As you are playing on behalf of my younger brother, it is only fitting that you make the first move," stipulated Yudhishthira.

"As you wish, Emperor. What was your request?" inquired Shakuni, masking his amusement.

"I require a six," stated Duryodhana.

"Uncle, of course! I cannot deny you," replied Shakuni, casting the dice and revealing three on each.

"Six, my nephew. Witness the marvel," exclaimed Shakuni triumphantly.

"Twelve, Uncle," confirmed Duryodhana, a sense of satisfaction evident in his voice.

"Here you are," responded Shakuni, rolling the dice and secretly reveling in his mastery.

"Your turn, nephew," Shakuni addressed Yudhishthira, handing over the dice. Yudhishthira rolled and achieved eleven. He then passed the dice to Dushasan, who, in turn, handed it to Shakuni with one eye closed.

"Now, what do you require?" Shakuni inquired.

"Eight!" declared Dushasana with enthusiasm.

Shakuni rolled the dice, and the result was eight.

Yudhishthira took his turn, rolling the dice and obtaining twelve. Again, he rolled and secured ten.

"Duryodhana, I suspect you may not get a chance to play. Yudhishthira, you are a genius in this game," remarked Shakuni, admiringly.

"Uncle, I need nine," demanded Duryodhana.

"I believe you can confidently wear the necklace now. Come forth, nine!" exclaimed Shakuni, casting the dice, which indeed revealed the desired number.

"Pass me the necklace, Arjuna," demanded Duryodhana.

"Indeed, Arjun, relinquish Yudhishthir's precious necklace," echoed Dushasan.

"This unique necklace is now our prized possession. This marks your first triumph, Duryodhana," congratulated Shakuni.

"I trust Duryodhana is now content. His invitation has been duly honored by Yudhishthira, and Duryodhana has emerged victorious. We can conclude the game here," suggested Bhishma.

"How can we do that? Will not the world mock us and claim that I denied Yudhishthira an opportunity to win? Would that not be an insult?" protested Duryodhana.

"Duryodhana speaks rightly, Pitamaha," added Dushasana.

"Listen to Pitamaha," pleaded Vidur, though his advice fell on deaf ears.

"Uncle, I cannot bring disgrace upon everyone by withdrawing from the game. What shall you stake next, Yudhishthira?" inquired Duryodhana, determined to proceed.

"I wager one hundred and eighteen thousand gold coins and my invaluable treasures," declared Yudhishthira, hopeful that he could reclaim his previous losses.

"Then I shall conquer all that you have put at stake," proclaimed Shakuni, his right eye closed.

"Twelve, Uncle," announced Duryodhana.

"That's my disciplined army, my nephew," applauded Shakuni as he rolled the dice.

Yudhishthira once again fell victim to the sorcery of Shakuni's dice.

"This time, I shall stake my chariot," proposed Yudhishthira, clinging to the hope of regaining his losses.

"May I triumph over this chariot, O Yuvraj?" queried Shakuni.

"You may, Uncle," replied Duryodhana, brimming with satisfaction.

"Yes, bhanje?" teased Shakuni as he rolled the dice.

"I require eight," declared Duryodhana.

"Here you are," responded Shakuni, rolling the dice, resulting in the desired outcome.

"Now, Brother, you must walk. Alas, you have lost your chariot," taunted Dushasan, a hint of mockery in his voice.

"Dear Yudhishthira, what more have you to stake? Speak, O Son of Kunti," prompted Shakuni.

"Now, I wager one lakh maids adorned with their golden ornaments," announced Yudhishthira.

"Duryodhana lacks neither maids nor riches, but if you insist on parting with them, so be it," conceded Shakuni.

"Now, my dear company, I require six," declared Shakuni, his dice rolling confidently.

"Six, Duryodhana!" rejoiced Shakuni, as three appeared on each dice.

"Now, what shall you stake, Emperor?" inquired Dushasana.

"A thousand elephants adorned with golden seats," revealed Yudhishthira.

"Did you hear that, my dear nephew?" exclaimed Shakuni with pride.

"Play on, Uncle. I need seven," expressed Duryodhana eagerly.

"And seven you shall have," replied Shakuni, casting the dice, to the jubilation of Dushasana.

"The elephants are now ours, Brother," gloated Duryodhana to Yudhishthira.

"Do you possess anything else to stake?" questioned Shakuni, turning his attention to Yudhishthira.

"I possess various jewels and celestial conches, alongside immeasurable wealth. I wager all of it," declared Yudhishthira, his hopes pinned on reclaiming his losses in this round.

"You have wagered it, and I shall win it! Now, what do you desire?" Shakuni asked, his right eye now closed.

"We require eight, Uncle," responded Dushasana.

"Eight it shall be!" proclaimed Shakuni, casting the dice. As anticipated, the outcome was indeed eight.

"Now, my dear nephew, Yudhishthir's immeasurable wealth is yours. Have you anything remaining? Speak, Emperor! Ponder, Emperor. Speak, dear Yudhishthir," goaded Shakuni with a laugh.

"With the exception of the Brahmins and their wealth, I now stake my land, my subjects, and my kingdom," declared Yudhishthira, his conviction undeterred.

"Indraprastha is at stake, nephew. I have awaited this moment. I must emerge victorious now. Twelve," chortled Shakuni, and as fate would have it, twelve appeared on the dice.

"Indraprastha is mine. You have lost everything, Samrat," taunted Duryodhana.

"Indraprastha is ours," retorted Ashwathama, his laughter echoing through the hall.

"He is no longer that, for he has lost Indraprastha," Shakuni exclaimed, his laughter resonating throughout the hall.

"Now, what will you stake? Do not hesitate. There is still a chance for you to win," encouraged Dushasana.

"I now stake my younger brother Nakula," proclaimed Yudhishthira.

"Please, for the sake of all that is sacred, cease this game, my king," pleaded Vidur. However, Dhritarashtra paid no heed, relishing in the victory of his son.

"Shall I play?" inquired Shakuni, turning to Yudhishthira.

"Yes, Uncle, please proceed," acquiesced Duryodhana.

"What is your desire now?" asked Shakuni, rolling the dice in his hands.

"I require nine, Uncle," responded Duryodhana.

"Nine? Here it is!" announced Shakuni triumphantly, as the dice yielded the desired outcome.

"Nakula is now our slave," taunted Dushasana, reveling in their apparent triumph.

"Now, what shall you stake?" Duryodhana asked, eagerly anticipating Yudhishthira's response.

"I stake Sahadeva," declared Yudhishthira.

"My army is prepared. Inform me of your needs," prompted Shakuni, addressing Duryodhana.

"I require six," stated Duryodhana.

"Of course," acknowledged Shakuni, releasing the dice from his grasp. The dice rolled, and the result displayed a four and a two, summing up to six.

"Here you are. Sahadeva, too, is now your slave, my dear nephew," proclaimed Shakuni.

"What shall you stake next?" Dushasana questioned Yudhishthira.

"Perhaps you should inquire of your younger brothers if they desire to be staked," suggested Ashwathama to Yudhishthira.

"There is no need to ask them," retorted Yudhishthira, anger evident in his voice.

"Proceed, O King of Gandhar, with Arjuna at stake!" Yudhishthira declared.

"I require eight, Uncle," requested Duryodhana.

"With Arjuna at stake, we shall obtain the desired eight, Arjuna!" assured Shakuni, and with a swift motion, he rolled the dice. As expected, the outcome revealed eight.

"Arjuna, you are now my slave," declared Duryodhana.

"Brave Arjuna is now your slave. What shall you stake now? Speak!" prompted Shakuni.

"Now, I stake Bhima," announced Yudhishthira, his decision enveloped in the frenzy of the moment.

Bhima became ensnared in the madness that consumed Yudhishthira.

"And what now?" inquired Shakuni of Yudhishthira.

"I stake myself," Yudhishthira declared, his voice heavy with determination.

"The Emperor Yudhishthira is at stake! If you win this wager, the entire world shall be within your grasp. My army must prevail in this game," proclaimed Shakuni.

"I must emerge victorious this time, Uncle," stated Duryodhana confidently.

"Indeed, my nephew," affirmed Shakuni.

"Now, I require nine," expressed Duryodhana, and Shakuni rolled the dice. Once again, fortune favored Duryodhana as nine appeared, and Yudhishthira suffered another loss.

"Devika is now your maid, Duryodhan," Shakuni laughed.

"Devika is now my maid, Yudhishthir. Go guard and, bring back Devika. From this moment onward, she shall reside among the other maids, not in the palaces," proclaimed Duryodhana.

"You fool! Do not invite your own demise," exclaimed Vidur.

"Mahamantri, maintain silence, guard!" snapped Duryodhana in a fit of anger.

"Yes, Yuvraj," responded the guard obediently.

"Go and retrieve Devika," ordered Duryodhana, and the guard left for the women's chamber.

"Hail, my queen," greeted a servant.

"Please, come in," welcomed Devika.

"The guard from the Recreation Room is here," informed the servant.

"Guide him to the entrance," instructed Devika, who was clad in a yellow dress, preparing for her ritual bath, as she was in the midst of her menstrual cycle.

"Hail, my queen," greeted the guard.

"Speak, guard," commanded Devika.

"My tongue hesitates to convey the words I have been tasked with," confessed the guard, his gaze fixed on the floor.

"Who sent you with such a message?" inquired Devika.

"Yuvraj Duryodhan," replied the guard.

"Duryodhan dispatched you with indecent words? Speak them, guard. Do not merely echo his words. Speak! Will you not heed my command? What did the Crown Prince say?" demanded Devika in a commanding tone.

"King Yudhishthir has lost his crown in the game of dice, my queen," relayed the guard.

"Has the king truly lost his kingdom? It seems there is more to this tale. Speak!" urged Devika.

"The king has also lost his brothers," disclosed the guard.

"What? I am certain you must be mistaken. Brothers are not possessions to be wagered and lost," exclaimed Devika, her shock palpable.

"He has also lost you, my queen," murmured the guard, his voice barely audible. Devika's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Surely, there is more to this revelation. Do not weep. Speak without fear," commanded Devika.

"Prince Duryodhana has summoned you to the royal court," the guard stammered, his voice trembling. Devika stood in silence, feeling the sting of betrayal from her own husband.