Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1834

c8.1834

Yudhiṣṭhira became King. He performed an Aśvamedha Yāga. After a few years of reign the Pāṇḍavas crowned Parīkṣit, son of Abhimanyu, as the King and started for their Mahāprasthāna (departing this life). They walked in a line in the order of their age, Dharmaputra leading and Pāñcālī following last. At first Pāñcālī fell dead, but nobody turned back. Then Sahadeva fell and nobody worried. This continued thus till Dharmaputra was left alone. A dog which followed them from their very start also remained alive with Dharmaputra. The dog was none other than Dharmadeva, father of Dharmaputra. When Dharmaputra reached the top of the Himālayas Indra was there ready with the divine car to take him to heaven. But Dharmaputra said that he would not come to heaven leaving his brothers and wife elsewhere. Then Indra informed him that they were already in heaven and so Dharmaputra went to heaven with Indra. (Only a general and succinct history of the Pāṇḍavas is given under this head. For details see under the heads of each of the Pāṇḍavas as well as Pāñcālī, Kuntī, Bhīṣma and Vyāsa).