Part VII: "Heaven" & "Hell"
Some years after Yuddhistira becomes king, the Pandavas have had enough
of life in the court. They depart to find the road to Heaven. Four of the
Pandavas and Draupadi die along the way: only Yuddhistira remains.
Yuddhistira Reaches Heaven
Yuddhistira finally comes to the gate of heaven, accompanied by his dog.
The dog is refused entrance by the guard. Upon hearing this, Yuddhistira
is indignant. He swears he will stay out if his faithful dog cannot go
with him. The gods are pleased by his committment to ultimate justice,
and admit him. The dog reassumes the form of Dharma, Yuddhistira's father.
After he gets inside the gates, Yuddhistira discovers that there is neither
heaven nor hell, but that it is in the minds of people, not an actual,
physical, reality. In the afterlife, he is reunited with his brothers and
wife, and with Duryodhana, who is now gracious and generous.
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