Zenith – Yudhistira Finds Happy Ever After

Check the theme here: Pandava Mahaprasthana

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Yudhistira felt as tiny as an atom when he sat in Indra’s chariot. Matali flicked the reins, and the thousand horses raced ahead. The rumble of the chariot wheels, the sound of the bells tied to the flagpole, and the fluttering of the flag made it impossible to have a proper conversation. Yudhistira wondered how his brother Arjuna defeated the daityas from a chariot this gigantic. They traveled through the layers of the universe, moving away from the earth forever.

Yudhistira tried to glimpse the sparkling celestial cities on the way, but they were nothing more than a blur. The horses were faster than Arjuna’s arrows. Eventually, Matali slowed down the pace to something more comfortable for Yudhistira. He murmured his thanks and took in the sights. They entered Indra’s city of Amaravati through the massive golden gates. Music and subtle scent enveloped him. Yudhistira felt his senses come alive. His eyes were no longer hurt by the dazzle of the gemstones or the riot of colors in the gardens they passed.

“We are here,” Matali said.

“Thank you, Deva,” Yudhistira replied and stepped down from the chariot. It left the moment he turned towards the large door loomed a step away.

Before Yudhistira could move, a rishi arrived. He looked ageless and could have been ninety or nine hundred years old. At ninety-nine, Yudhistira thought he appeared older than the rishi.

“Come with me, Son of Pandu.”

Yudhistira bowed and followed the rishi. The doors opened when they reached it and shut after they stepped inside. Yudhistira looked around and tried to remember the descriptions of Indra’s sabha. While the place was endless, it didn’t seem like where Indra held his court.

“It’s not. We have other places to go first.” The rishi said as if he could read Yudhistira’s thoughts.

As they walked down the corridor shimmering with pearls, Yudhistira saw some familiar faces on individual thrones. He gathered it was where the warriors killed on a battlefield came after death. However, Yudhistira stopped in his tracks when he saw Duryodhana sitting on a large throne and drinking soma as beautiful young women fanned him. Some showered flowers on him, and a couple of gandharvas sang for him.

Yudhistira couldn’t believe his eyes. The sight outraged him. “How is this possible?”

“Raja Duryodhana fought valiantly and died in a battle. He attained a place in swarga because of it.”

“But what about his crimes? He tried to poison Bhima and made at least six murder attempts on us. He lied, cheated, and abused Draupadi in the sabha. Then he went back on his word. This man…” Yudhistira trailed off when the rishi gave him an amused smile.

“It seems your mortal self still holds you. Let it go to find peace.”

Yudhistira shook his head. “Not until I know why Duryodhana is getting such lavish treatment.” He turned in a circle and asked. “Where are my brothers? Where is Draupadi? What about my children?”

“Do you want to meet them, then?”

“Yes! We promised to meet again in swarga. Please take me to my family.”

The rishi beckoned Yudhistira to follow him.

The surroundings changed as they continued to walk. Yudhistira was feeling uneasy as the golden pillars turned rusty. A stink of death and decay replaced the sweet fragrance of swarga. Instead of divine music, he heard cries and wails of tortured aatmas. The longer they walked, the darker it got. Rotten carcasses, skulls, bones, and vulture-like creatures greeted them.

“What is all this?” Yudhistira asked, trying not to gag. It looked a hundred times worse than a battlefield. “Where are my brothers?”

“We’ll get there. Shakra said we could turn back if you wanted.”

Yudhistira shook his head. “No. We’ll go where they are.”

He did his best to ignore everything around him and kept his vision focused on the rishi’s back. When they reached a large cage, the rishi gestured for him to step inside.

“Elder brother! Is that you?”

“Yudhi! Stay with me!”

“Brother, free us from here!”

The voices shocked Yudhistira when he recognized them. “They…” He swallowed and tried again. “They are my brothers and Draupadi! But why are they here in naraka when Duryodhana is enjoying swarga? This is not possible!”

“Everyone has to atone for their sins. You can go back to swarga if you want,” Indra said, appearing out of nowhere.

“No! I can’t leave my family! If they are here, I will stay here.”

“What if they have to remain here for a long time?” Indra asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t part with them. One parting was painful enough. I won’t allow another. This is my swarga if they are with me. Let me see them, Deva!” Yudhistira implored.

Indra clapped, and a thunderbolt struck. Swarga replaced the nightmarish setting. Yudhistira was still confused as he saw they were in a garden with a waterfall and a flowing river at a distance.

He turned to find his birth father, Dharma, beside Indra.

“Son, you had to go through naraka to enter swarga. Your family is already there. Some of them have returned to their former selves while others are between transitions.” He pointed at the river and added. “This is celestial Ganga, the most powerful place in swarga. Go take a dip in it and discard your mortal form.”

Yudhistira bowed to them in relief. He wiped his tears and walked to the river. The water was frothy and vibrant. Stepping into it felt like he was entering a bottomless pit. However, the waters were soothing. He gasped as he rose from the waves. His mortal body shrunk into a tiny seed and vanished.

Ganga had cleansed him of everything. Yet, Yudhistira could feel his love for his family pulsing inside him. He walked to Indra and Dharma and touched their feet.

“Come, son of Dharma. It’s time we answer your questions.” Indra said.

Yudhistira followed him with an awed expression.

“Chitragupta calculates people’s karma. When a person has little good karma but a long list of sins, he will enjoy the merits of his good karma first. Once it is extinguished, he will spend eternity in naraka until his aatma becomes pure. Then, the aatma goes to other realms or takes a rebirth.”

“So, Duryodhana won’t be in swarga for long.”

“He is already in naraka along with Dushasana and Shakuni. What you saw was an illusion of his previous presence in swarga. His father Dhritarashtra spent his time in naraka and is transitioning to the yaksha kingdom where he will serve the guhyakas.” Indra replied.

Yudhistira smiled. It felt good to hear the deva confirm what he studied in the Vedas.

“There they are. Go in and see how many you can recognize.” Indra said, with a twinkle in his eyes.

Yudhistira bowed and stepped into a grand hall. He gasped at the opulence. This was Indra’s sabha! He looked at the various people sitting in groups and felt dizzy. Forcing himself to be calm, he observed each group with complete attention.

“Krishna!!!” Yudhistira whispered. His hands folded into anjali mudra of their own accord. Krishna sat on the largest throne with a lotus garland around his neck and eight arms holding different weapons. The chakra spun on one hand while another held a bow. Arjuna was by his side while someone, he deduced as Satyaki, stood behind him. Balarama was part-human, part-snake, sitting on Krishna’s other side.

With much difficulty, Yudhistira turned his eyes from Krishna to others. He could stand there forever and drink in the divine sight of Krishna.

“Is that Bhima?” He asked.

“Yes. He is with the other Maruts.” Indra replied. Pointing to others, he explained their true forms. “Nakula and Sahadeva are with the Ashwins. Abhimanyu is with his father, Chandra. Karna is with his father, Surya. He returned from naraka a while before your entry and is transitioning, like you are.”

Yudhistira marveled at their celestial forms. However, he looked around to search for Draupadi and couldn’t find her.

“She is there. The brightest of them all.” Indra said, answering the unasked question.

“O Devi!” Yudhistira said, unable to blink. What he thought was a large ball of light was actually Draupadi in her celestial form.

“She is Sri-Adi Parashakti. You can’t find anyone brighter or more powerful than her.”

Yudhistira nodded in a trance. If he thought Draupadi was beautiful as a human, he wouldn’t know how to describe her now. He was afraid to step closer lest her radiance burn him into ashes. She was liquid gold in its purest form. Her power formed an aura around her. Yudhistira stared as some young gandharvas teased her. She laughed and hugged them close.

“Your sons,” Indra explained.

“My sons…” Yudhistira murmured. He wondered if he could go to them.

“Soon! You may not feel it, but you are being transformed into your celestial form. As part of Dharma, you are one of them and just as divine.” Indra said. “Free your mind of everything else.”

Yudhistira did as instructed. He closed his eyes and let the divinity of the place wash over his senses. He willed his mind to think of nothing except Krishna.

“Welcome to swarga, my friend.”

Yudhistira opened his eyes and looked at Krishna. His limbs felt lighter, and his vision was a thousand times clearer. His transformation was complete.

With a wide smile, he walked into the open arms of the supreme being of the universe.

“Krishna!”

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