Death of Draupadi - Illustrations from the Barddhaman edition of Mahabharata

The Mahaprasthanika Parva ( "Book of the Great Journey") is the seventeenth of the eighteen ''parvas'' (books) of the Indian

epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...

''. It traditionally has three chapters, as does the

critical edition Textual criticism is a branch of textual scholarship, philology, and literary criticism that is concerned with the identification of textual variants, or different versions, of either manuscripts (mss) or of printed books. Such texts may range i ...

.Ganguli, K.M. (1883-1896)
Mahaprasthanika Parva
in ''The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa'' (12 Volumes). CalcuttaDutt, M.N. (1905) ''The Mahabharata (Volume 17): Mahaprasthanika Parva''. Calcutta: Elysium PressDebroy, B. (2010) ''The Mahabharata, Volume 1''. Gurgaon: Penguin Books India, pp xxiii - xxvi It is the shortest book in the epic. Mahaprasthanika Parva recites the journey of the

Pandava The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, aɳɖɐʋᵊ IAST: Pāṇḍava) is a group name referring to the five legendary brothers, Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, who are central figures of the Hindu epic ''Mahabhara ...

s across India and finally their ascent towards

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...

, as they climb their way to heaven on

Mount Sumeru Mount Meru (Sanskrit/Pali: मेरु)—also known as Sumeru, Sineru or Mahāmeru—is a sacred, five-peaked mountain present within Hindu, Jain and Buddhist cosmologies, revered as the centre of all physical, metaphysical and spiritua ...

. As they leave their kingdom, a dog befriends them and joins their long journey. On their way, Draupadi dies first. Four of the Pandava brothers also die midway. Only

Yudhishthira Yudhishthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, ud̪ʱiʂʈʰiɾᵊ IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira''), also known as Dharmaputra, is the eldest among the five Pandavas, and is also one of the central characters of the ancient Indian epic ''Ma ...

and the dog reach

. Their conversations, and reasons for not reaching heaven are described in ''Mahaprasthanika Parva''.John Murdoch (1898), The Mahabharata - An English Abridgment, Christian Literature Society for India, London, pages 132-137

Structure and chapters

The ''Mahaprasthanika Parva'' has three ''adhyayas'' (chapters) but no secondary ''upa-parvas'' (parts, little books). It is the smallest book of the epic.Bibek Debroy, The Mahabharata : Volume 3, , Penguin Books, page xxiii - xxiv of Introduction

Background

At the end of ''Mausala Parva'',

Vyasa Vyasa (; , ) or Veda Vyasa (, ), also known as Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa (, ''Vedavyāsa''), is a ''rishi'' (sage) with a prominent role in most Hindu traditions. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the epic Mahabharata, Mah� ...

advises

Arjuna Arjuna (, , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, �ɾd͡ʒun̪ə is one of the central characters of the ancient Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is the third of the five Pandava brothers, and is widely regarded as the most important and renowned among them. ...

and his four brothers to retire and renounce their kingdom as the purpose of their life has been served. Arjuna informs

of Vyasa's advice, and his brothers agree as does Draupadi.

Summary

Yudhishthira crowns

Parikshit Parīkṣit (, ) was a Kuru king who reigned during the Middle Vedic period (12th–9th centuries BCE). Along with his son and successor, Janamejaya, he played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state, the arrangement of Vedic ...

his successor as King of

Hastinapur Hastinapur is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ''Hastinapura'' is described as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom in Hindu texts such as the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas; it is also mentioned in ancient Jain ...

, with

Yuyutsu Yuyutsu () is a character in the ancient Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is the son of King Dhritarashtra of the Kuru dynasty, born to a Vaishya-class concubine who serves as a maid to Dhritarashtra's queen, Gandhari. This makes Yuyutsu the p ...

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

. In

Indraprastha Indraprastha (Sanskrit: इन्द्रप्रस्थ, n̪d̪ɾɐpɾɐst̪ʰə (lit. "Plain of Indra" or "City of Indra") is a city cited in ancient Indian literature as a constituent of the Kuru Kingdom. It was designated the capit ...

, the

Yadava The Yadava (), not to be confused with Yadav, were an ancient Indian people who believed to have descended from Yadu (legendary king), Yadu, a legendary king of Chandravamsha lineage. The community was formed of various clans, being the #T ...

Prince Vajra is crowned king. The five brothers and Draupadi then start their journey through India and the Himalayas. As the Pandavas leave, a dog befriends them and they take him along for the journey. The Pandavas first 'set out with their faces towards the east', reaching the ''lauhityaṃ salilārṇavam'' (literally, the "red waters", possibly the

Brahmaputra The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Southwestern China, Northeastern India, and Bangladesh. It is known as Brahmaputra or Luit in Assamese, Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan, the Siang/Dihang River in Arunachali, and ...

, one of whose names is "''Lohit''"). There, the god

Agni Agni ( ) is the Deva (Hinduism), Hindu god of fire. As the Guardians of the directions#Aṣṭa-Dikpāla ("Guardians of Eight Directions"), guardian deity of the southeast direction, he is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu temples. ...

appears before them, commanding Arjuna to return the bow

Gandiva Gandiva (IAST: Gāṇḍīva; ) is a divine bow of Arjuna, one of the Pandavas from the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' The bow was made by Brahma. Story of Creation According to the Mahabharata, the legendary Gandiva bow was fashioned by Brahm ...

, which he had borrowed from the god

Varuna Varuna (; , ) is a Hindu god. He is one of the earliest deities in pantheon, whose role underwent a significant transformation from the Vedic to the Puranic periods. In the early Vedic era, Varuna is seen as the god-sovereign, ruling the sky ...

for the burning of the

Khandava Forest The Khandava Forest or Khandava Vana (Sanskrit: खाण्डव वन, ) or Khandavaprastha (; ) is a forest mentioned in the epic ''Mahabharata, Mahābhārata.'' It lay to the west of Yamuna river. The Pandava, Pandavas are described to have ...

. Agni says the celestial bow was asked by him from Varuna for the use of Partha. Urged by his brothers, Arjuna threw both the bow and the inexhaustible quivers into the waters. They then turn south, reaching the sea, then proceed up the west coast of India until they reach

Dvārakā Dvārakā, also known as Dvāravatī (Sanskrit द्वारका "the gated

ity The pyramid of Ity was probably the tomb of Pharaoh who reigned during the 8th dynasty. It has never been discovered and is known only from a cliff-face inscription at Wadi Hammamat in the Eastern Desert, where there were several quarries in P ...

, possibly meaning having many gates, or alternatively having one or several very grand gates), is a sacred historic city in the sacred literature of Hi ...

. They see it submerged by the sea, as described by Arjuna in ''Mausala Parva'', the sight of a beautiful place drowned and dead making them depressed. They turn north, stop at

Rishikesh Rishikesh, also spelt as Hrishikesh, is a city near Dehradun in the Indian state Uttarakhand. The northern part of Rishikesh is in the Dehradun district while the southern part is in the Tehri Garhwal district. It is situated on the right bank ...

, then cross the Himalayas. As they cross the Himalayas, Yajnaseni is the first of their party to die.

Bhima Bhima (, ), also known as Bhimasena (, ), is a hero and one of the most prominent characters in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. As the second of the five Pandava brothers, Bhima was born to Kunti—the wife of King Pandu—fathered by Vayu, the ...

asks Yudhishthira why Draupadi died early and couldn't continue on the journey to heaven. Yudhishthira claims though they all were equal unto her, she had great partiality for Dhananjaya (Arjuna), so she obtained the fruit of her conduct today. The remaining Pandavas continue their journey, and Sahadeva is the next to die. Yudhishthira explains Sahadeva, like his other brothers was virtuous in every respect, except he suffered from the vice of

pride Pride is a human Emotion, secondary emotion characterized by a sense of satisfaction with one's Identity (philosophy), identity, performance, or accomplishments. It is often considered the opposite of shame or of humility and, depending on conte ...

and

vanity Vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness compared to others. Prior to the 14th century, it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant ''futility''. The related term vainglory is now often seen as ...

, thinking none were his equal in wisdom. The brothers continue on to Mount Meru, and Nakula dies next. Yudhishthira explains Nakula had also suffered from the vice of pride and vanity, thinking he was the most handsome person in the world. Arjuna is the next person to die without completing the journey. Yudhishthira explains to Bhima how Arjuna suffered from the vice of pride and vanity, in his case thinking he was the most skilled and powerful hero over all others. Yudhishthira, Bhima, and the loyal dog continue forward. Bhima tires and falls down, and so asks Yudhishthira why he is also unable to complete the journey towards heaven. Yudhishthira explains to his brother of the latter’s vice of

gluttony Gluttony (, derived from the Latin ''gluttire'' meaning "to gulp down or swallow") means over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In Christianity, it is considered a sin if the excessive desire for food leads to a ...

, eating much while unmindful of others’ hunger, alongside his own vice of pride and vanity concerning his immense strength.C Rajagopalachari (2008), Mahabharata, 52nd Edition, Bhavan's Book University. Yudhishthira and the dog continue alone on their journey. As they ascend Mount Meru in Chapter 3,

Indra Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes Indra is the m ...

appears in his chariot with a loud sound, suggesting Yudhishthira need not walk all the way, and hitch a ride to heaven. Yudhishthira refuses, says he could not go to heaven with Indra without his four brothers and Draupadi. Indra replies that all of them had entered heaven, but when Yudhishthira asks if the dog can jump into the car first, Indra says the animal may not. Yudhishthira refuses to leave the dog, claiming the dog is his friend, and to betray his friend during his life's journey would be a great sin. Indra questions why, after abandoning his late brothers and their common wife he had acquired great merit, and yet when stupefied by a dog, would renouncing everything. Yudhishthira replied there is neither friendship nor enmity with the dead, hence he abandoned his brothers and Draupadi when unable to revive them. However, he could not bring himself to abandon the still-living dog. Indra urges him to consider his own happiness by abandoning the dog and hopping into his chariot. Yudhishthira still refuses to ride the chariot, explaining he cannot leave the living dog, who was his companion for his own happiness. The dog, watching Yudhishthira's commitment towards himself, manifests in his true form as the deity

Dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...

. He praises Yudhishthira for his virtues, and says whereas he head disregarded his love for his brothers who each died of their pride, he asked him to revive Nakula, and passed his trial. Again on this occasion, thinking the dog devoted to him, he had renounced the very chariot of the gods instead of him. For this, he had no equal in heaven, having earned regions of great felicity. They then proceed towards heaven, and on the way meet the sage

Narada Narada (, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage-divinity, famous in Hinduism, Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of the Manasputra, mind-created children of Brahma, the creator ...

who Yudhishthira had transcended the achievements of even royal sages, and how he has not known of anyone else ascending to heaven with a human body. Yudhishthira, a king of righteous soul, salutes the deities and finally enters heaven aboard Indra's chariot.

English translations

Mahaprasthanika Parva was composed in Sanskrit. Several translations in English are available. Two translations from 19th century, now in public domain, are those by Kisari Mohan Ganguli and Manmatha Nath Dutt. The translations vary with each translator's interpretations. Debroy, in 2011, notes that updated critical edition of Mahaprasthanika Parva, after removing verses generally accepted so far as spurious and inserted into the original, has 3 ''adhyayas'' (chapters) and 106 ''shlokas'' (verses). The entire parva has been "transcreated" and translated in verse by the poet Dr.

Purushottama Lal Purushottama Lal (28 August 1929 – 3 November 2010), commonly known as P. Lal, was an Indian poet, author, translator, professor and publisher. He was the founder of publishing firm Writers Workshop in Calcutta, established in 1958. Life an ...

published by

Writers Workshop Writing workshop may refer to: *Writing circle, a group of like-minded writers supporting each others' work * Writers workshop (activity), a workshop format for critiquing and revising work **Authors' conference or writers' conference, a type of c ...

Quotes and teachings

Mahaprasthanika Parva, Chapter 3:

References

External links

Mahaprasthanika Parva
English Translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Mahaprasthanika Parva
English Translation by Manmatha Nath Dutt
Mahaprasthanika Parva in Sanskrit
by Vyasadeva with commentary by Nilakantha - Worldcat OCLC link
Mahaprasthanika Parva in Sanskrit and Hindi
by Ramnarayandutt Shastri, Volume 5
PDF and eBook of Ganguli’s translation, with Sanskrit PDF.

"Yudhishthira and His Dog", A4 PDF, tablet version (Ganguli’s version annotated) and Sanskrit text links.
{{Mahabharata Parvas in the Mahabharata