The entire court was taken aback when Vidur stepped forward and addressed the king. "क्षमा कीजिये महाराज, परन्तु आपने अभी तक ज्येष्ठ राजकुमार युधिष्ठिर को न्याय करने का अवसर नहीं दिया।" (Forgive me, Your Majesty, but you have not yet given the eldest prince, Yudhishthir, a chance to pass judgment.)

The blind king sighed and responded, "परन्तु न्याय तो दुर्योधन द्वारा हो चुका है, विदुर।" (But the judgment has already been made by Duryodhan, Vidur.)

Vidur, undeterred, continued, "फिर भी, एक बार राजकुमार युधिष्ठिर का मत जान लेना उचित रहेगा।" (Still, it would be wise to hear Prince Yudhishthir's opinion once.)

The blind king nodded in resignation. "राजकुमार युधिष्ठिर को न्याय करने की आज्ञा दी जाती है।" (Prince Yudhishthir is granted permission to pass judgment.)

Yudhishthir rose from his seat, bowed to the king, and began speaking, his voice steady and respectful. "ज्येष्ठ पिताश्री एवं महाराज की जय हो।" (Glory to my esteemed father and to the king.) The blind king gave his blessings, and Yudhishthir turned to the assembly, his expression thoughtful.

"मैं न्याय करने से पहले अपराधियों का वर्ण जानना चाहता हूँ," (Before passing judgment, I wish to know the background of the offenders,) he said calmly.

The king instructed, "राजकुमार को अपराधी अपना वर्ण बतायें।" (Let the offenders reveal their backgrounds to the prince.)

The first man stepped forward and said, "मैं ब्राह्मण हूँ, महाराज।" (I am a Brahmin, Your Majesty.)

The second one declared, "मैं क्षत्रिय हूँ, महाराज।" (I am a Kshatriya, Your Majesty.)

The third man said, "मैं वैश्य हूँ।" (I am a Vaishya.)

Finally, the fourth man spoke, "मैं शूद्र हूँ।" (I am a Shudra.)

Yudhishthir considered their words carefully before speaking again. "न्याय के नियमों के अनुसार, शूद्र को चार वर्ष कारागृह में बिताने का दंड, वैश्य को आठ वर्ष, क्षत्रिय को सोलह वर्ष,परंतु ब्राह्मण को मृत्युदंड दिया नहीं जा सकता।" (According to the rules of justice, the Shudra is sentenced to four years in prison, the Vaishya to eight years, the Kshatriya to sixteen years, and the Brahmin cannot be sentenced to death.)

He turned to the court's learned sage and bowed. "कुलगुरु कृपाचार्य ही ब्राह्मण के दंड का निर्णय लेंगे।" (Kulguru Kripacharya will decide the punishment for the Brahmin.)

The entire court was impressed by Yudhishthir's wisdom and thoughtful judgment. But suddenly, Gandhar Naresh Shakuni stood up, his voice filled with disdain. "ये क्या बात हुई? अपराध एक है परंतु दंड अनेक? न्याय का अपराधियों के वर्ण से क्या संबंध?" (What kind of justice is this? One crime, yet different punishments? What does justice have to do with their caste?)

Yudhishthir, remaining calm, spoke with a serenity that stilled the air. "अपराध एक नहीं है मामाश्री। एक शूद्र अज्ञानी होता है, इसलिए उसका अपराध अज्ञानयुक्त होता है। उसे चार वर्ष का दंड मिला। परन्तु एक वैश्य अपराधी, शूद्र से अधिक ज्ञानी होता है, इसलिए उसका दंड दुगना होकर आठ वर्ष हुआ।" (The crime is not singular, Mamashri. A Shudra lacks knowledge, so his crime is born out of ignorance, which is why he received a punishment of four years. But a Vaishya is more knowledgeable than a Shudra, and thus, his punishment is doubled to eight years.)

Yudhishthir continued, his gaze unwavering. "एक क्षत्रिय केवल इन दोनों से अधिक ज्ञानी नहीं होता, बल्कि उसका कर्म ही लोगों की रक्षा करना होता है। उसने हत्या की है, इसलिए उसे सोलह वर्ष का कारावास मिला।" (A Kshatriya, however, is not only more knowledgeable but is duty-bound to protect people. It is he who has committed murder, so he is sentenced to sixteen years.)

Then, with a deep breath, Yudhishthir turned back to the court. "परंतु एक ब्राह्मण, जो हर प्रकार के ज्ञान से युक्त होता है, यदि वही हत्या करेगा तो उसे मृत्युदंड नहीं दिया जा सकता क्योंकि ब्राह्मण को मारना ब्रह्मपाप है।" (But a Brahmin, who is endowed with all kinds of knowledge, if he commits murder, cannot be sentenced to death, for killing a Brahmin is a sin against Brahman.) "इसका निर्णय कुलगुरु कृपाचार्य लेंगे।" (This is why Kulguru Kripacharya must decide his punishment.)

Shakuni stood once more, refusing to back down. "तुम्हारा यह न्याय असमान है पुत्र युधिष्ठिर।" (Your justice is unequal, son Yudhishthir.)

But Yudhishthir merely smiled, a beautiful, serene smile that radiated confidence and calm. "सबको एक ही तुला में तोलना न्याय नहीं, अन्याय है मामाश्री।" (To weigh everyone on the same scale is not justice, but injustice, Mamashri.)

The crowd roared in approval, their voices filling the court with chants of " राजकुमार युधिष्ठिर की जय!" (Hail Yudhishthir!)

Vidur stepped forward once more, his voice steady. "न्याय तो हो चुका। अब मैं महाराज से निवेदन करता हूँ कि वे हस्तिनापुर के राजकुमारों में से युवराज घोषित करें।" (Justice has been served. Now, I request the king to declare a crown prince from the princes of Hastinapur.)

The blind king let out a long, weary sigh, knowing what he must announce, though reluctant to do so. "मैं पितामह भीष्म से निवेदन करता हूँ कि वे शंख बजाकर हस्तिनापुर के युवराज युधिष्ठिर को सम्मानित करें।" (I request Pitaah Bheeshma to sound the conch and honor Yudhishthir as the crown prince of Hastinapur.)

Bheeshma rose from his seat and blew the conch, its sound reverberating through the court. The crowd erupted once again, chanting, "युवराज युधिष्ठिर की जय!" (Hail Crown Prince Yudhishthir!)

The four Pandavas immediately stood up, rushing towards their elder brother to celebrate. Nisha, on the other hand, felt a wave of pride and joy. Overcome with emotion, she stood up and raised her hands, joining the chorus, "युवराज युधिष्ठिर की जय!" (Hail Crown Prince Yudhishthir!)

Just as she was about to lower her hands, she felt a sharp cut below her elbow, caused by the bangles of Adrika, who quickly moved her hand to cover Nisha's mouth. Dragging her out of the court, Adrika scolded, "क्या ऐसे चिल्ला रही हो? विक्षिप्त हो गई हो क्या?" (Why are you shouting like this? Have you gone mad?)

Nisha, still confused, replied, "क्यों, वहाँ तो सब चिल्ला रहे थे।" (Why, everyone was shouting there.)

Adrika glanced at the reddish cut on Nisha's arm, relieved to see no blood. "हाँ, पर हम महल में ही रहते हैं, और महल में सब अच्छे नहीं होते। कितनी बार बोलूं उन बुरे लोगों का ध्यान आकृष्ट मत करो।" (Yes, but they live in the palace, and not everyone here is good. How many times do I have to tell you not to attract the attention of those bad people?)

Nisha immediately understood who the "bad people" were.

Adrika then smiled and said, "चलो, आज इतना सज-धज कर निकले हैं, तो मेला का आनंद लेते हैं।" (Come on, we're all dressed up today. Let's enjoy the fair.)

Nisha, still a bit confused, asked, "कौन सा मेला?" (Which fair?)

Adrika replied, "हस्तिनापुर के नए युवराज के घोषित होने की खुशी में मेला का आयोजन किया गया है।" (A fair has been organized to celebrate the crowning of Hastinapur's new prince.)

Nisha nodded happily, and holding each other's hands, they made their way towards the fair.

But little did they know that someone in the court had already taken notice of Nisha after hearing her enthusiastic cheer for Yudhishthir.