Mahaprasthanika Parva is the ninety-seventh Upa Parva included in the seventeenth Maha Parva, which is of the same name, Mahaprasthanika Parva. It has only one upa parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
How did the drowning of Dwaraka Island affect the Pandavas’ lives?
Krishna knew in advance about the drowning of Dwaraka within a few months and told Balarama. So Balarama went for his final penance on the mainland seaside. His two sons, Ulmuka and Nishatha, were advised to live in harmony, but due to the curse of Gandhari, in the internal uncontrolled war, all the Vrishni people of Dwaraka ended their lives, and the island was submerged under seawater.
Some families other than the Vrishni lineage, like the Yadu lineage, disbursed to other regions of India, like Puri and Mysore, before the drowning of the island, but they were very obedient to Krishna. Krishna advised Kripa to give a good education and install Parikshit on the throne of Hastinavati as per the desire of Yudhishtira.
Twenty years had passed after Kunti, Gandhari, and Dritarashtra had gone to heaven, leaving their mortal bodies, being very aged, and left their physical weak bodies in the natural forest fire, near the Ganga river banks. Yudhishtira was ruling for the last twenty years, after Dritarashtra had gone to the forest for his penance.
During the regime of Dritarashtra, Yudhishtira had ruled for fifteen years after the war. So he was ruling totally for thirty-five years after the war. After the crowning ceremony of Parikshit, the Pandava brothers had decided to start their final journey towards the Himalaya Mountain. Their final journey was named Mahaprasthanika.
What did Yudhishtira do before starting his final journey?
Before starting his final journey, Yudhishtira had done something as the responsible king of Hastinavati. Vajra was crowned in Indraprastha, and young prince Pareekshit was crowned in Hastinavati. Yuyutstu was ordered to look after them as the senior and well-versed in administration.
Kripa was teaching Pareekshit, and Yudhishtira told him to make him an expert emperor later. Subhadra started looking after the treasury, and Draupadi was relieved, since she desired to follow Yudhishtira to the forest.
Chitrangada was permitted to go to Manipura. Ulupi was permitted to enter the Ganga River, and finally, she went to Nagaloka. Yuyutsu had conducted the final funeral rituals of Sanjaya since he had a natural death on the way to the Himalaya.
Who were moving together in their final journey of the Pandavas?
Yudhishtira was moving ahead on the front in their final journey. Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Droupadi were following him in a series on the footpath to the Himalaya. As the sixth follower, a dog was leading ahead of them.
All of them had first visited the beach, dipped in seawater to have a holy bath, then started towards the Himalaya Mountain. The ‘Dog’ is seen in the Stri Parva on this website. A dog is a symbol of Dharma or righteousness and is sincere to its master always.
श्वा चैवानुययावेकः पांडवान् प्रस्थितान्वने ।
क्रमेण ते ययुर्वीरा लौहित्यं सलिलार्णवं ॥
The dog had been following them, but walking ahead of them. Gradually, they passed on the beach away from the sea with salt water, at a place called Lauhitya. The brave Pandava brothers, along with Draupadi, were moving forward. In Sanskrit, Loha means metal powder. So the Lauhitya means natural sand mixed with metallic powders.
What was requested by the angel of fire with Arjuna?
The angel of fire requested Arjuna to abandon the celestial bow with the inexhaustible quiver then and there and continue their journey further. No weapon was required for the final journey of any man.
These were provided to Arjuna by Agni for this life when Arjuna was with Krishna. Varuna was the custodian of these weapons. Other Pandavas also advised Arjuna, so he abandoned his bow and quiver with the remaining arrows into that sea then and there. These were provided during the Khandava Dahana, also described on this website.
What did the Pandava brothers see later?
ततःपुनःसमावृत्ताःपश्चिमांदिशमेवते।
ददृशुर्द्वारकांचापिसागरेणपरिप्लुतान्॥
Later, they had turned west again. There, they had seen the Dwaraka island engulfed by the sea. The Dwapara yuga was slowly ending then. They walked towards the Himalaya Mountains. Bhima was asking a few reasonable questions, and Yudhistra was answering them promptly without turning back.
Was the dog moving on the front or at the rear of the Pandavas?
The dog was sometimes moving in front and sometimes moving at the rear of the Pandavas, as was natural to its habits. Preferably, it had moved to the front as the devotee of Yudhishtira, like a security dog for him only.
Why did Draupadi fall down while ascending the Himalaya?
Droupadi was unable to move further, fell down, and Bhima asked Yudhishtira the reasons for her death. Yudhishtira replied to Bhima, as she was showing partiality towards Arjuna, she died. Yudhishtira moved ahead without turning back.
Why did Sahadeva fall down while ascending the Himalaya?
Sahadeva was unable to move further, fell down, and Bhima asked Yudhishtira the reasons for his death. Yudhishtira replied to Bhima that he was thinking proudly of himself as possessing great intelligence, and hence died. Yudhishtira moved ahead without turning back.
Why did Nakula fall down while ascending the Himalaya?
Nakula was unable to move further, fell down, and Bhima asked Yudhishtira the reasons for his death. Yudhishtira replied to Bhima as he was thinking proudly of himself as the most handsome, and hence died. Yudhishtira moved ahead without turning back.
Why did Arjuna fall down while ascending the Himalaya?
Arjuna was unable to move further, fell down, and Bhima asked Yudhishtira the reasons for his death. Yudhishtira replied to Bhima as he was thinking proudly of his body’s valour, and hence died.
Yudhishtira also explained that Arjuna was unable to kill the enemies within the promised period. Krishna had helped him in each and every stage, and hence Jayadratha was killed. He told and moved ahead without turning back. It would be available on this website under Pratijna and Jayadratha-vadha Parvas.
What was the vision seen by Yudhishtira while standing on the Himalaya?
After passing some distance, Bhima asked Yudhishtira why he was unable to walk further and felt as if he were falling down. When Bhima had fallen, Yudhishtira had become sensitive and turned towards Bhima.
Yudhishtira stood still on the Himalaya and started feeling sorry for the death of Bhima. Then, Yudhishtira had seen a vision in his premises. An old man was pulling water from a well and pouring it into ‘Thulasi’ plants. The pulling water pot was having holes, and the water was leaking from it. The old man never stopped his work of pulling water.
Yudhishtira walked near him with sympathy and found the plants were planted but inverted in the soil, the roots being projected up and the leaves with branches being inserted down inside the soil. Yudhishtira thought the old man would be blind and informed him that the pot was leaking and the plants were inverted.
The old man told him not to disturb him but to continue his work. The old man continued his work. Then, Yudhishtira desired to help him and enquired about his health, sight and his purpose of work.
Suddenly, the old man disappeared, announcing that some ignorant people worry about death. Only the dead body of Bhima was there. Yudhishtira then felt sorry but decided as follows and started to move without turning back.
Why did Bhima fall while ascending the Himalaya?
Bhima was always eager to eat more, and he sometimes ate non-vegetarian food also. He could not satisfy his appetite and could not withstand fatigue, and died. Yudhishtira confirmed that the old man was none other than Krishna.
Why was the dog moving preferably in the front but not in the rear?
Veda Vyasa Rishi had described the true history. The features and habits of any dog would persuade it to eat the dead bodies. The five persons had fallen behind, but the dog was moving ahead of Yudhishtira steadily, like leading, but as if it was really following him. The dog had not observed the dead but was interested in moving ahead of Yudhishtira as a sincere follower. So Yudhishtira had appreciated it.
Why did Devendra, the king of heaven, appreciate Yudhishtira?
अयंश्वाभक्तइत्येवत्यक्तोदेवरथस्त्वया।
तस्मात्स्वर्गे नतेतुल्यःकश्चिदस्तिनराधिप॥
The King of heaven was Devendra. He finally greeted Yudhishtira with an aeroplane to accompany him to heaven, but Yudhishtira required the dog to also be on the plane.
‘This dog is alive and my devotee, so I could not leave him here, for climbing the aero-plane, to go myself alone to heaven’, Yudhishtira had refused to climb the plane without the dog, as told to Devendra. ‘This kind of sacrifice is more virtuous of you’, Devendra replied.
Also, Dharma, the father of Yudhishtira, had appreciated him. Then the dog disappeared, and only Yudhishtira was there. In heaven, nobody like you would be there, later Dharma announced to Yudhishtira. The dog was none other than Yamadharma in disguise, leading and testing him, being his father.
Next post, Mahabharat: Swargarohana Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Khila Harivamsha Purana would be presented separately in another article.
What are the benefits of reading this story?
On reading this story, children would gain more memory power, great moral strength in their lives in future; creating a sense of self-reliance, leading to peace and progress.
It is humbly prayed for the blessings of God Krishna upon us.
Readers may share this story with children, friends and family.
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