This story occurs in the final chapter of the Mahabharatha.After Shree Krishna gave up His mortal coil, the Pandavasdid not desire to live any longer and undertook Mahaprasthanaor the final journey. They tread the strenuous path of yogaand dhyana and sought mukthi.The Pandavas began to walk towards the Himalayas.Dharmaraja was followed by Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula,Sahadeva, and Draupadi. A dog also followed them. As theywere walking, first Draupadi fell down due to exhaustion.Bheema was disturbed. He asked Dharmaraja why Draupadifell down and could not reach the heaven.Dharmaraja answered:“It was Draupadi’s duty to love all her husbands equally; butshe loved Arjuna more than others; so she failed to reach hergoal.”Later on, one by one, Sahadeva, Nakula and Arjuna fell down.Dharmaraja explained the reasons for their fall:“Sahadeva was proud of his scholarship; Nakula was proudof his handsome looks; Arjuna, the achiever, was arrogant;so they all failed to reach the heaven.”As he was speaking, Bheema too fell down. Dharmarajaexplained Bheema’s failure to reach the goal:“Bheema, you ate too much. It is a sin to eat more thannecessary and deprive another living being of its food. Youwere also proud of your strength.”Leaving behind his fallen brothers and wife, Dharmarajacontinued his journey towards the heaven. Now, only thedog followed him.Indra, the king of Gods was waiting with the Pushpaka Vimanato take Dharmaraja to the heaven. Dharmaraja asked Indra:“Can I bring this dog along with me? He has followed mefaithfully till the end of this difficult journey.”Indra replied, “Sorry, there is no place for dogs in the land ofGods.”Dharmaraja responded:“If I have to leave this dog behind, I wish to stay on theearth itself. I do not want to gain mukthi by betraying thisanimal, which has accompanied me till the end.”Both Indra and Yama, who was in the guise of the dog, werepleased with Dharmaraja’s sense of righteousness and blessedhim.Bheema was world renowned for his strength, Arjuna wasknown for his valour, Draupadi and Nakula were endowedwith exquisite beauty, Sahadeva was a scholar of repute.Dharmaraja did not possess any of these qualities. Only dharmawas his constant companion.While knowledge, valour and beauty made his brothers andwife remain on this earth, dharma secured a place in heavenfor Dharmaraja.Shall we too make dharma our life companion?
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