Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.61.32
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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dharmeṇa
—
fairly
Instrumental of dharma. Names the lawful manner. The Bhāgavata is precise: Balarāma won 'by dharma' — the cosmic order itself is on His side, so the killing in verse 36 is dharma's blow, not vengeance.
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chalam
—
deceit
From √chad, 'to cover, conceal.' Names trickery that hides what is. Distinct from kaitava (gambler's trick): chala is the general category, kaitava the specific form. Bhāgavata uses both, layering Rukmī's offence.
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prāśnikāḥ
—
witnesses, judges
From praśna, 'question' — prāśnika is one who is asked, hence a judge/witness. The same root behind upaniṣadic 'praśnopaniṣad.' Rukmī demands prāśnikas, but the only true prāśnika will be the disembodied voice from the sky.
Rukmī undoubtedly had his friends in mind when he called for the witnesses to speak. But even as his witnesses prepared to aid their cheating friend, a wonderful event took place, as described in the next verse.
With cheating mentality Rukmi said, "I have won. The witnesses can testify to this."
Balarāma won according to the rules (dharmeṇa). But in spite of his winning, Rukmī resorted to cheating.
Balarāma alone (api) won this wager, fairly (dharmeṇa). Or by unfair means (adharmeṇa) Rukmī resorted to cheating.
Like a man caught with the goods who then calls his thieving friends as witnesses, Rukmī invents an appeal to false judges — the rigged audience that the Pāṇḍavas faced at Hastināpura, in miniature here at Bhojakaṭa.
My note
Source: vedabase.io