page_title: Pandava
section_title: Death of Pandavas
hierarchical_section_title: Pandava / Death of Pandavas
caption_attribution_description: English: Mahabharata ([n.d.]) Author: Ramanarayanadatta astri Volume: 6 Publisher: [Gorakhpur Geeta Press] Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT Language: Hindi Call number: AAO-3248 Digitizing sponsor: University of Toronto Book contributor: Robarts - University of Toronto Collection: robarts; toronto Full catalog record: MARCXML [Open Library icon]This book has an editable web page on Open Library.
context_page_description: The Pandavas are the central characters of the longest Hindu epic Mahabharata who fought the Mahabharata War against their cousins Kauravas for the throne of Hastinapur in Kurukshetra. They were five brothers, namely Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, acknowledged as the sons of Pandu, the king of Hastinapur and his two wives Kunti and Madri. All five brothers were married to the same woman, Draupadi. However, Yudhishthira had another wife, namely Devika, Bhima had other 2 wives, namely Valandhara and Hidimba and Arjuna had other 3 wives, namely Ulupi, Chitrangada, Subhadra.
context_section_description: The Pandavas ruled Hastinapur for 36 years and established a righteous kingdom. Shortly after Lord Krishna left the Earth, they all decided that the time had come for them to renounce the world, as the age of Kali had started.
  So the five Pandavas and Draupadi left to the path of liberation. For this purpose they all climbed Mount Kailash, which leads to the Swarga Loka. On their way, all except Yudhisthira slipped and died one by one. Yudhisthira was accompanied by a dog who was none other than God Yama himself.
  The first to die was Draupadi; she was imperfect because she loved Arjuna more than her other husbands. Then it was Sahadeva, imperfect because he was overconfident about his knowledge in science. He was followed by Nakula, imperfect because he was over-enthusiastic about his good looks. Then fell Arjuna, imperfect because he was proud of his skills- he challenged Hanuman and Shiva. Next was Bhima, imperfect because he killed his enemies brutally- thus enjoyed their sufferings. Only the eldest Pandava, Yudhisthira, reached the door of Swarga Loka (heaven), carried on Lord Indra's chariot. On reaching Heaven, he did not find either his virtuous brothers or his wife Draupadi. Instead, he finds Duryodhana sitting on a divine throne.
  He wanted an explanation from Lord Yama, the lord of death. Lord Yama explained that the Kauravas had been allowed into heaven because they died as warriors on the battlefield. This earned them so much merit and credit that it wiped out all their debts. Yudhisthira demanded to know where his brothers and his wife were. He was then taken to hell. Lord Yama explained that they were experiencing the reactions of their actions but it was temporary. Once the debt had been repaid, they would join them in Swarga. Yudhisthira loyally met his brothers, but the sight and sound of gore and blood horrified him. Though initially he was tempted to flee, he mastered himself and remained after hearing the voices of his beloved brothers and Draupadi calling out to him, asking him to stay with them in their misery. Yudhisthira decided to remain, ordering the divine charioteer to return. He preferred to live in hell with good people than in a heaven of his enemies. Eventually this turned out to be another illusion to test him. Yama explained Yudhishtira that it was all illusion created by Yama himself. It was punishment to Yudhishtira to feel sad and soak tears on seeing his beloved ones being punished. It was because Drona felt sad on hearing fake news that his son was dead. Yudhishtira told message incompletely due to which Drona felt sad and cried in grief. Because of this, Yudhishtira had to feel sad in similar manner. Hence Yama created this illusion. In reality, Pandavas and Draupadi reached heaven just after their deaths. Yama explained everything and Yudhishtira reached heaven with his mortal body.
caption: Yudhishthira and Yama (in form of dog) ascending to Heaven
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