The Final Journey and Yudhishthira's Dog

Yudhishthira crowned Parikshit king of Hastinapur and placed him in Yuyutsu's care. Then the five brothers and Draupadi set out in simple bark garments. A dog began to follow them. On the seashore Agni appeared, and Arjuna gave up the Gandiva and the never-empty quivers into the water, for they belonged to Varuna.

After circling the earth, they crossed the Himalayas towards Mount Meru. On the way, Draupadi fell first. Bhima asked, 'She never did wrong, did she?' Yudhishthira said, 'Of all of us, she loved Arjuna the most.' And he walked on without looking back.

Then Sahadeva fell: he had been proud of his wisdom. Then Nakula, for pride in his looks. Then Arjuna: he had said he would burn all enemies in a single day, and he looked down on other archers. Finally Bhima fell, for eating too much and boasting of his strength. Now only the dog remained with Yudhishthira.

Then Indra arrived with his chariot: 'King, come to heaven; you will go in your own body.' Yudhishthira said, 'Not without my brothers and Draupadi.' Indra told him they had already reached heaven. Yudhishthira said, 'This dog is devoted to me and came with me. He must come too.' Indra said, 'There is no place in heaven for a dog. Leave him behind.'

Yudhishthira did not move: 'To abandon one who is devoted to you and has taken refuge with you is a great sin. I will not leave him even for heaven.' At that moment the dog changed form: he was Dharmaraja himself, Yudhishthira's father. He said, 'Son, once again you have passed the test.' And Yudhishthira rose to heaven in his own body in Indra's chariot.