Book Seventeen: The Ascent

After hearing of all the ruin of the Yadavas and the death of Krishna,
Judhistir decides to renounce the world.  They place Prikshit on the
throne and they along with Draupadi put of clothes of tree bark and 
enter into the forest.  They travel across many seas and rivers.  One by
one, each pass away.  Draupadi is first to die and when she does, Bhim 
asks why she had to die.  Judhistir says that though they all loved her
equally, she favored Arjun, therfore she had to die.  Next, Shadev passes
on and Bhim again asks why.  Judhistir replies that Shadev believed that 
no one equalled him in wisdom and therefore he has died.  When Nakul passes
away, Bhim again asks Judhistir why.  Judhistir reples that Nakul thought
no one was as handsome as him so he died.  When Arjun dies, Judhistir 
explains to a curious Bhim that Arjun promised to destroy all his enemies
in one day and because he could not keep his promise, he died.  Then 
when Bhim himself falls, he asks Judhistir what he had done wrong.
Judhistir explains that Bhim was a great eater and that he never thought
of other while he ate and beacause of that he had to die.

Judhistir finally makes it up the mountain to the gates of heaven.  The 
only living soul still following him is a dog.  Indra meets him at the gate
and tells him to enter heaven.  Judhistir agrees but says the dog must go
with him since it has faithfully followed him the whole way.  When Inda
says that he cannot do to heaven with the dog, Judhistir agrees that then
he will also not go.  The dog transforms to the god Dharma, who says
he was testing Judhistir's loyalty.  All three enter heaven.



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