The five Pandavas and Draupadi, accompanied by the dog, completed one round around their kingdom and set forth to the north, in the direction of the mighty Himalaya mountain, towards their final destination. They found a sandy terrain looking like a vast sea and the legendary mountain, Meru, beyond that.
Then, Draupadi fell. Bhima realized that the queen of the Pandavas who had stood by them in all their sufferings had lost her life, before reaching the final destination. He asked his elder brother. “I am not aware of any wrongs done by this princess of the Panchala kingdom. Why has she fallen?”
Yudhishthira replied. “Draupadi always cherished a soft corner toward Arjuna. That was wrong on her part.” Bhima was reluctant to leave the queen behind. But, Yudhishthira walked on, ignoring the pleading looks of his brother.
Soon, Sahadeva fell. Bhima asked. “This innocent brother of ours served all of us with his whole heart. What would have caused his fall?” Yudhishthira replied. “He was proud that none equalled him in wisdom. He has lost his life because of that”. Again, Yudhishthira moved ahead without looking back.
Next fell Nakula. To Bhima’s question Yudhishthira remarked. “Nakula was too proud of his handsome features and always felt that no one else was equal to him in beauty. That has caused his downfall.”
It was the turn of Arjuna next. Bhima was surprised. Why his younger brother, highly respected for his right conduct even under adversity should fail in his final journey? Yudhishthira pacified his brother. “Arjuna was also too proud of his skills in battle. He had even proclaimed that he could finish all the enemies in one day. He had gone to the extent of belittling veteran warriors this way. That was his mistake”.
Finally, Bhima felt that he was himself on the verge of breathing his last. Before falling down he asked. “What wrong have I done to fail in our final mission?” Yudhishthira justified Bhima’s fate. “You often boasted of your own power and made fun of others who did not measure up to you.”
Yudhishthira’s trial
The Pandava king, then, marched ahead leaving his fallen brothers and his queen behind. At that time there was a thunder like noise all around and a chariot appeared from the sky right in front of the Pandava. Indra sat behind his charioteer, Matali, and invited Yudhishthira inside.
But, Yudhishthira remained outside with folded hands and said. “I do not want heaven without my brothers and queen. Please have mercy on them and take them with me.”
To that Indra replied. “Have no concern on that count. Their fall was only a simple punishment for the blot on their otherwise blameless character. They have already reached heaven ahead of you.”
But, Yudhishthira was hesitant even then. He said. “This dog has accompanied me in this journey from the start. Please allow it to come with me to the end.”
To that Indra replied. “Why do you bother about a mere dog when immortality awaits you? You are also going to become equal to me and you shall enjoy all the comforts of heaven.”
But, Yudhishthira stood firm. He said. “I shall not abandon one that took refuge in me, even at the cost of losing all the heavenly bliss.”
Indra was amused. He asked. “Remember that you had abandoned all your brothers and even your dear queen when they fell. Why do you now care for this little creature?”
Yudhishthira replied. “It was beyond me to give life to my brothers and queen when they fell down dead. what I left behind was only their body. But, this dog is alive and has come under my protection. Abandoning one who has taken refuge is as bad as the worst of sins.”
The True form of the dog
As Yudhishthira spoke those words the dog disappeared and in its place stood Dharmaraja, the god of Righteousness. He addressed his son. “I am very pleased with you. I had tested your sense of Dharma (righteous conduct) once before, while in the Dwaita forest. Your brothers, then, had drunk water from the lake ignoring my warning. You stood by Dharma at that time and answered all my questions correctly. You have won again this time. The world of the immortals is waiting for you.”
Meanwhile several other gods and celestial sages had appeared on the scene to receive Yudhishthira. They all welcomed him into the chariot of Indra. Sage Narada who was present, then, spoke. “Look at those heavenly abodes resplendent with all the wealth. You are going to live in one of those”. To that Yudhishthira responded. “I prefer to live in such a place wherever my brothers and Draupadi are.” Indra tried to make fun of Yudhishthira. “You are about to enter heaven. Why do you still retain emotions like love and affection as mortals do?” Yudhishthira did not care how he was seen by the gods. He wanted to be with his people even in the other world.
With this we come to the end of the book, “the Great Journey (mahaa prasthaanika parvam)”.
