The Aftermath of Mahabharata

Did you know Kauravas went to heaven while four of five Pandavs went to hell?

With the death of Vasudev Krishna, the Kalyug has begun. Yudhishthira, the Dharmaraj, 36 years after Mahabharata was now sure, it’s time for them to leave the Hastinapur. It is high time that they should leave the kingdom and head for Wanaprastha (a walk to attain moksha away from all family relationships and material goods). They coronate Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu and grandson of Arjun, as the emperor of Kuru dynasty and left Hastinapur.

When they were leaving, a lot of people from Hastinapur gathered to watch them. It was a major event for them. Coming out of Hastinapur Pandavas discussed where should they go next. Since they have explored the nearby forests during their 12 years of exile; they now thought that it was time to climb the steeps of Mount Mandara.

The five Pandavs and Draupadi now were climbing Mount Mandara. One day while climbing Draupadi slipped, fell and died. This shook all the Pandavs but not Yudhishthira, he did not stop or even turn back to look at his wife for the last time. He kept climbing as if it didn’t matter to him. This was Panchali, their common wife, for whose honor they fought this great war. Draupadi’s fall meant that in all the good karma she had gathered over her life was now exhausted. Because of her karma she could make this far with Pandavas. Except for Yudhishthira the rest of the Pandavs stopped and mourn for her demise. They then caught up with him and Bheema asked Dharmraj, “why Draupadi had to fall? She had already suffered so much throughout her life. She had lost all her children; she had gone through such severe hardship all her life. Had she not suffered enough in this life itself to clear herself of her sins? Yudhishthira very calmly answered, “There are many things but let me say one thing, she had committed her life to love her five husbands equally but she could never manage that. She always loved Arjuna and longed to be with him as his wife. She only fulfilled her duties with us and after knowing that Karan is also a son of Kunti her heart desired him too. The Kauravas had tormented and humiliated her, but so vindictive was she that she had kept her hair loose for fifteen years and tied it only after consuming ninety-nine brothers. Her sins were grave and for these reasons she has fallen”.

After climbing a little further Nakula and after sometime Sahadeva fell. Both Pandavs were invoked from Ashwin Kumar, who were most magnificent and handsome among Gods. Bheema now pleaded Yudhishthira to halt for a while and mourn for their co-brother, whom he loved more than Arjuna and himself. Yudhishthira continued taking long step and without giving a thought of who was following him. Bheema now wondered what kind of spirit has entered his most affectionate and virtuous brother which has made him so callous. Yudhishthira, after Bheema caught with him, said no need to talk about their charms and prowess, which are meaningless when one faces death. In half a couplet Yudhishthira declares Nakula’s sin he endlessly gloated over his charm “Apana sundara apane bakhanai”. And Sahadeva was the knower of the past and the future; he could only look at his palm and he would see what was to happen. But he would not utter a word unless someone asked him. He wouldn’t utter a word of warning even when one was on the edge of a precipice, as it were. The game of dice and their exile wouldn’t have happened had he told him what was going to happen. His silence was the cause of their misery and he felt no sorrow on account of his death, he told Bheema. Leave them, said Yudhishthira to Bheema

Now Arjuna was the one to leave their company. Bheema simply gazed at Yudhishthira, who was climbing as if nothing has happen, because now it was too much suffering for him since he departed from his wife and now his third brother. His emotions were not in his control and he with all the agony asked Yudhishthira “Why? Why did Arjuna fell? He had won countless victories. He had defeated even Krishna and Balarama at the time of Subhadra’s wedding, had single-handedly defeated the Kauravas in the Virata war. Kind-hearted and generous, he had always empathized with those in distress; he had made many happy”. Yudhishthira said “He is a great sinner. Arjuna’s Punya (good karma) had brought him that far, he said, and that exhausted, he had to die. He was proud and arrogant and vaunted his glory. He was never tired of bragging how he had conquered all in battle — gods, demons and humans, and how because of him, I, Yudhishthira could rule as the emperor. He was an ignoramus, a sinner, Yudhishthira told Bheema.

Soon Bheema also slipped and died. Yudhishthira murmured to himself “Bheema, your gluttony and your nature of seeking pleasure in other’s pain took your life.” Yudhishthira believed that sometimes it is necessary to inflict pain on others, even our dear ones but taking pleasure in others pain is an act of pure inhumanity, this is where the sin is committed. The Dharmraj and knew that whatever has happened to his brothers and wife was as per the dharma. All of them came as far as their good karma took them. So without any attachment or resentment he went further. When he reached on top of the mountain. He saw a Chariot (a divine vehicle) waiting there for him. According to holy literature, if a man’s activities throughout his life follow dharma then a divine vehicle will come from the sky and take him to the Heaven with his physical body and soul intact or else death is the only way to leave this world, leaving your body in this world. (Yudhishthira was invoked from Yama, the Dharma himself. Bheema was invoked from Pavan dev and Arjuna from Lord Indra.)

Yudhishthira now turned to take a look at his deceased brethren and wife. To his surprise he found a dog behind him, whom he remembers from when they started their journey in Hastinapur. Yudhishthira thought for a while. His brothers and wife could not make it this far, but this dog has made it. This dog has followed them from Hastinapur and has successfully reached the top of the mountain. If this dog has made it this far maybe he deserves heaven as well. So he asked the heaven escort on the chariot to allow this dog to join him for heaven. They said no we have been ordered only to pick you and we cannot take this dog on Indra’s Chariot. Yudhishthira looked at the dog and said, “This dog has followed me from Hastinapur till this mountain top. My wife, my brothers could not make it but this dog made it here. He must have some karma in him for he is still alive here. If the faith and destiny did not take him down then who am I to reject him what he deserves.” They still were not ready to allow a dog on their craft. Yudhishthira cannot do this adharma to the dog. He said, “If you are not taking the dog then even I will not go, I will sit on this mountain and leave my body.” They were amused and said, “If we do take your dog to heaven then you will also not go to heaven?”. Yudhishthira replied “This is not my dog, I don’t know who's dog it is, but if it made this far then it deserves heaven”.

Then they reached heaven along with the dog. Yudhishthira upon reaching heaven asked “Where are my brothers? Where is my wife?”. The Escorts told to visit Indra in his assembly first. In Indra’s assembly were sitting Duryodhana, Dushasana and even Shakuni in their full glory. He was taken aback. He couldn’t understand why Duryodhana, Dushasana and even Shakuni were there but no sign of his brothers. Indra, the king of gods, welcomed Yudhishthira and asked him to take a seat with them but Yudhishthira was not interested. He asked “Where his brothers are? Where his wife is?”. Indra said “They are not here they are at some other place”. Yudhishthira then said that he would like to meet his brothers and wife first rather than stay in heaven with Kauravas. Indra ordered the escorts to lead Yudhishthira to his brothers and wife. Yudhishthira followed them. They soon entered a dark, foul-smelling place. Screams were coming from all over the place. Yudhishthira soon heard a familiar voice. It was of Panchali. He followed the scream and then heard his brothers scream as well. Watching them being tortured like this, he can’t bear it. He was puzzled that why? His brothers and wife are being tortured like this in hell whereas Duryodhana and his clan is in heaven. To seek this answer he went to Yama and asked why is so? Yama then told Yudhishthira “You are not the one to decide who should go to hell or heaven. They are paying price for their karma only. After they have suffered enough, they will be sent to heaven”. Yudhishthira was not satisfied with this answer and asked “Why are Kauravas in heaven? Why are they not in hell? They are the sole reason for this great battle that took so many lives. Why are they being spared from such sins and why my brothers and wife who have been more virtuous in their life being tortured?”. Yama then told Yudhishthira about a boon their ancestor King Kuru has received because of which Kauravas went straight to heaven.

Kurukshetra name comes from two things, first Kuru, who was a king and Kshetra, means Land. So the place is The land of King Kuru. Kurukshetra lies between two of the holiest rivers. Saraswati and Yamuna rivers. King Kuru selected this land on the bank of sacred river Saraswati for spiritual culture and cultivation. King Kuru arrived in Kurukshetra, barren land then, with a gold chariot. He started ploughing this land using a golden plough and borrowing Shiva’s Bull and Yama’s Buffalo. Indra appeared before him and asked what was he doing. King Kuru replied he was preparing this land for eight-fold virtues; truth, yoga, kindness, purity, charity, forgiveness, austerity, and celibacy.

Indra came back when the land was ready and was impressed, granted king two boons:

1) This land shall be known by your name forever and be called Kurukshetra.

2) Anyone who will die, the death of a valiant warrior will be straight granted heaven without considering his karma.

And so Kauravas, who died on the battlefield of Kurukshetra went straight to heaven. Yudhishthira then asked about Karna, their elder brother, as he did not see him in heaven and in hell. To which Yamraj replied that Karna was invoked from Surya and is now sitting beside him.

This was the aftermath of Mahabharata presented in front of you after studying various sources. I do not consider myself to be well versed in Mahabharata nor do I ensure any validation of the above story. I have come across different endings to the same stories. I have simply put forth the one I think will be appropriate.