The Final Journey
The group of six – five men and one woman paused before they crossed the Lakshman Jhoola or the bridge of Lakshamana. This was the last opportunity to turn back. Once they crossed the bridge, there would be no turning back. The troll on the bridge was a kind soul and asked them to take some time to meditate on the decision. The leader of the group was Yudhistra. He was clear on what he had to do. He looked at the rest and they all came to the same conclusion as he had just as they had done their whole lives. It was time to cross the bridge and cross the Himavat Mountains to the great beyond.
They prayed at the Shrine of Shiva and then started crossing the bridge. When they got to the other side, the troll wished them luck and then locked the gate. Now there was no turning back.
The maiden with the long black hair who was Draupadi asked what would happen next. Yudhistra breathed a heavy sigh and said they would start walking and they would not stop even if one of them fell. The balance of dharma and karma in their lives would determine how far they could walk and that was it.
Just as they were finishing the conversation, a small black puppy ran toward them and ran around Yudhistra as if he was its master. The whole party laughed at the antics of the dog and they started the final walk.
The party of six and the puppy started walking towards the great mountain. It was getting cold and difficult to breathe because of the elevation.
And first Draupadi fell. When Bhima ran to help her, Yudhistra stopped him. Her balance got her here and he could not help her. Over a lifetime, he had listened to Yudhistra against his own judgement. It was so decreed by their mother and Krishna their maternal cousin had urged them to do the same.
Bhima then asked Yudhistra, “What was Draupadi’s fault? She was a peer of Gandhari and she was beloved of Krishna.” Yudhistra then replied, “She was very vain about her looks and she preferred Arjuna over all of us. Her dharma required to love us all the same. And for that, she has to stop here”.
And the walk continued. The elevation and the lack of air started to weigh on everybody except Yudhistra and the dog.
And then Sahadeva fell. Bhima asked Yudhistra as to why Sahadeva had fallen. Yudhistra replied, “Oh dear brother, throughout his life, he thought he was unparalleled in wisdom. That was not true ”. Bhima then asked who was wiser than Sahadeva. Yudhistra then responded, “Our Uncle Vidura was wiser than him and was not vain. That was his fault. You cannot be proud of something you are not. That was his lie.”
And the walk continued. The onset of icicles and mist was starting to weigh on the party with the exception of Yudhistra and the dog.
And then Nakula fell. Bhima wanted to go lift him up but was stopped again. "What was Nakula’s fault?" he asked? Yudhistra replied, “He was vain about his looks and he thought he was the most handsome person.” Bhima then asked who was more handsome than Nakula. Yudhistra replied, “Pradyumna, son of Krishna was more handsome than Nakula and was not vain about it. And for that lie, he has to fall.”
And the walk continued. Then Arjuna fell. Bhima became distraught. He did not recall Arjuna ever lying even in jest. And he asked what was the sin of Arjuna, the beloved of Krishna and who was given the privilege of seeing the three eyed god twice. Then Yudhistra replied, “At the court of Hastinapura after the humiliation of us, he swore he would destroy all of our enemies single- handedly in one day. He needed Krishna’s and your help and it took him 18 days. And for that lie, he has to fall now”.
And the walk continued. Then Bhima fell. Bhima asked what was his sin. Yudhistra replied, “When you were a cook at the court of Virata, you ate first before serving others and doing neivedya. When you were hungry, you ignored the hunger of others. Although it was not a lie, it was a form of untruth and for that you were given the privilege of being the last to fall.”
And Bhima asked, “What about you?” Yudhistra then replied, “All my life, I have not swerved from the path of Dharma. The only time I did was when Krishna asked me to lie to our guru, Drona. It was not exactly a sin because Krishna had asked me to do it. And I did not exactly lie. The fact of the elephant in the statement was drowned out by the noise of the PanchaJanya, Krishna’s conch. I will not fall. That was told to me by the Island born sage (Vyasa).”
“And where will this journey end for you” asked Bhima? Yudhistra then sighed and said, ”I will be tested a couple of more times on the final journey and if I pass I will be elevated to the world above Indra loka and below the worlds of the trinity. That is the world occupied by Bharata, Harischandra and Bhagiratha. It is also the world where the feet of Vishnu rests and where the Ganga starts and then flows onto the head of Shiva”.
And Bhima asked, “Who are you? Are you a god?” Yudhistra then replied, “No, I am the closest to Dharma in this yuga as Ramachandra was in the prior. When I step up to the mountain Meru where the earth ends, Dwapara will disappear. It is time to leave, dear brother. I loved you all equally. Now it is time to go.”
Bhima then asked, “What about the dog? How come it got so far? What was its Dharma?”
Yudhistra replied, “It is a mystery to me as well. It is time for you to close your eyes and meditate on Krishna. Farewell, dear brother.”
And the walk continued. The embodiments of Dharma glowed in the twilight as the gods descended to welcome him to the regions not even inhabited by them.
Ron
The dog was the God of Death and Justice in Hindu Mythology. The God of death and Justice was the preceptor of Yudhistra.
While Hinduism has many gods, there are two main gods in the Pantheon, Shiva and Vishnu.
The Hindu theme is all about justice. You possibly cannot sin all your life and then just be forgiveness in the last minute and have fun ever after. How is it justice to the people who have been wronged?
Thank you for the retailing of this, I believe, Hindu legend in English.
While I understand the virtues taught in the tale, I do not understand the complex unity of the Hindu religion with its many gods and steps to living that seem to be rather required if one is to achieve the ultimate reincarnation?
Perhaps, the dog was merely a reincarnated soul like Yudhistra gladly accompanying him on his journey.
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