The crowd was still buzzing from Duryodhana's epic tug-of-war. The lamps cast a golden glow over the festive grounds, where music, laughter, and the scent of prasad filled the air.
Bahubali, standing tall at the center, his white dhoti shimmering under the torchlight, raised his hands to quiet the cheering crowd—nobles, Brahmins, common folk, and visiting kings from Anga, Kalinga, and beyond.
Dushala, Bhanumati, Duryodhana, the Kauravas, and the royals of Magadha watched eagerly, their faces alight with anticipation.
Bahubali's voice rang out, warm and commanding. "Yuvraj Duryodhana has shown his might, but the night is young, and the Kauravas' spirit burns bright! Now, I call upon Rajkumar's Dushasana and Vikarna, mighty brothers of Hastinapur, to join me for a new game—a sport I've crafted called *Kabaddi*! Let's test their agility and teamwork!"
Dushasana and Vikarna strode forward, their crimson and gold kurtas catching the light, Dushasana grinning confidently, Vikarna calm but alert.
The crowd murmured, intrigued by the unfamiliar game.
Duryodhana shouted, "Bahu, what's this *kabaddi*? Another trick to humble us?"
Bhanumati teased, "Nadha, you survived the rope—let's see your brothers fare!"
Dushala clapped, her eyes sparkling. "Bahu, you're making this night unforgettable! Bhaiya Dushasana, Bhaiya Vikarna, make us proud!"
Bahubali smiled, raising a hand for silence. "Let me explain *kabaddi*—a game of strength, speed, and strategy! Two teams face off in a marked arena. One team sends a raider to the other's side, chanting 'kabaddi, kabaddi' without taking a breath, aiming to tag opponents and return to their half. The defenders must stop the raider by tackling them before they cross back. If the raider escapes, their team scores; if caught, the defenders score. Dushasana and Vikarna will captain two teams, choosing their brothers to form squads of seven each. I'll oversee the game to ensure fairness. Let's see which Kaurava shines brightest!"
The crowd roared, excited by the novel challenge. Servants swiftly marked a rectangular arena on the ground with white chalk, two halves divided by a center line, and smaller lines for boundaries.
Dushala whispered to Bhanumati, "This sounds thrilling! My brothers will love it, but who'll outsmart whom?"
Karna, standing with Vrushali, chuckled. "Bahu's games are as clever as his reforms. This'll be a spectacle!"
Dushasana and Vikarna, now captains, picked their teams from their brothers.
Dushasana, with a bold grin, chose Yuyutsu, Durmukha, Dussaha, and four others, saying, "My team will charge like elephants!"
Vikarna, thoughtful, selected Vivinsati, Chitrasena, Vikata, and four more, nodding, "We'll move like panthers, swift and precise."
The crowd cheered as the teams took their places, Dushasana's squad in crimson sashes, Vikarna's in gold.
Bahubali gathered the captains, his voice clear. "Dushasana, Vikarna, who'll raid first?"
Vikarna, ever respectful, bowed slightly. "Jyeshta Dushasana, you choose. Let's honor our bond in this game."
Dushasana laughed, clapping Vikarna's shoulder. "Well said, brother! My team will raid first—prepare to be outwitted!" They returned to their sides, the crowd buzzing with excitement.
Bahubali signaled the start, blowing a conch. Dushasana sent Yuyutsu as the first raider.
Yuyutsu, wiry and quick, dashed into Vikarna's half, chanting, "Kabaddi, kabaddi!" in one breath. Vikarna's team circled, eyes sharp. Yuyutsu lunged, tagging Chitrasena's arm, but Vivinsati tackled him, pinning him just shy of the center line.
The crowd roared, "Vikarna! Vikarna!" as Vikarna's team scored a point. Yuyutsu laughed, dusting himself off. "Well played, brothers! I'll get you next time!"
Vikarna sent Chitrasena to raid. He weaved through Dushasana's half, chanting rhythmically, dodging Durmukha's grab, and tagged Dussaha before sprinting back, earning a point.
The crowd cheered, children shouting, "Chitrasena!"
Dushasana, grinning, shouted, "Chitrasena, you're fast, but we're fiercer!" He raided next, his bulk intimidating as he chanted, "Kabaddi, kabaddi!" He barreled into Vikarna's side, tagging two brothers before Vikarna himself tackled him, both crashing in a heap. The crowd erupted in laughter, Bhanumati calling, "Suyodhana, teach Dushasana some grace!"
The game intensified, raids and tackles growing fiercer. Dushasana's team scored when Durmukha outran three defenders, his long strides earning cheers.
Vikarna's squad answered, Vivinsati's agility tagging two opponents in a single raid.
The crowd chanted, "Kabaddi! Kabaddi!" as dust rose from the arena. Duryodhana, watching, roared, "Dushasana, show them your strength! Vikarna, don't let him win!"
Dushala giggled, "Bahu, this game is chaos! My brothers are like bulls in a field!"
Midway, Dushasana raided, chanting loudly, and dodged Vikarna's lunge, tagging Vikata and sprinting back, but Vikarna's team rallied, catching him just at the line.
The crowd gasped, then cheered, "Vikarna!"
Karna commented, "Dushasana's bold, but Vikarna's strategy is tight!"
Vrushali added, "This kabaddi is more thrilling than a chariot race!"
As the game neared its end, scores were close—Dushasana's team at 12, Vikarna's at 11.
In the final raid, Vikarna took the field himself, chanting, "Kabaddi, kabaddi!" with calm focus. He feinted left, dodged Dushasana's grab, tagged Yuyutsu and Dussaha, and sprinted back, evading a diving tackle.
The crowd exploded, "Vikarna wins!" as his team secured the winning point, 13-12.
Bahubali raised his hands, laughing. "Victory to Vikarna's team! A game well fought, Dushasana, your ferocity was unmatched, but Vikarna's cunning prevailed. Magadha salutes you both!"
The crowd cheered, "Jai Vikarna! Jai Dushasana!" Dushasana hugged Vikarna, laughing. "Well played, brother! You outsmarted me, but I'll demand a rematch!"
Vikarna smiled, "Anytime, Jyeshta. This kabaddi is a warrior's dance!"
Duryodhana clapped both, saying, "Bahu, your game is very entertaining, we will play once when we have time."
Dushala and Bhanumati rushed forward, Dushala teasing, "Bhaiya Vikarna, you're The hero of the game! Bhaiya Dushasana, better luck next time!" The festivities continued, the night alive with joy, the kabaddi clash a new legend under Mahadev's divine gaze.