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The Mahaprasthanika Parva, or the Book of the Great Journey is the 17th of the 18 books of Mahabharata. It is not divided into upa parvas and consists of 3 chapters making it one of the shortest of all Parvas of Mahabharata. The summary of the parva is:
When Arjuna returned after his meeting with Vyasa, he conveyed his message to Yudhishhthira. Yudhishthira gave up his kingship. He crowned Satyaki’s son as the king of Sarasvati, Krtavarma’s son as the King of Mrittikavarapura, and Lord Krishna’s grandson Vajra as the ruler of Indraprastha. He divided all the wealth equally among the three kings he crowned.
Then, the Pandavas and Draupadi started their journey to heaven through the Himalayas. As they began their journey, a dog befriended them and the Pandavas took him along with them for their final journey to heaven. As they began to climb the Himalayas to reach heaven, Drauppadi was the first one to die. When Bhima questioned Yudhishthira on the reason for her death, Yudhishthira said that she could not complete her journey to heaven because she suffered with the vice of partiality in her affections towards Arjuna. Then, the five Pandava brother continued their journey. Sahadeva was the one too die next and Yudhishthira said that Sahadeva possessed the vice of vanity and pride and thought that no one had as much knowledge and wisdom as him. Then, the four brother continued their journey and Nakula died next. Yudhishthira cited the same vice of vanity and pride in Nakula for being the most handsome man in the world. Arjuna was the one to die next. Yudhishthira said that Arjuna possessed the vice of pride and vanity for being the most skilled and powerful warrior in the world. Then, Yudhishthira, Bhima and the dog continued their journey. After a while, even Bhima died, and while dying he questioned Yudhishthira for the reason of his death and he told Bhima that he performed the sin of gluttony all his life and being inconsiderate to the hunger of the needy.
Finally, only Yudhishthira and the dog complete the journey to heaven. Indra welcomed Yudhishthira at the gates of heaven. However, Yudhishthira said that he would not enter heaven without the rest of his brothers and Draupadi. Lord Indra assured him that they had already reached heaven after their death. Yudhishthira then asked Indra whether his friend and companion, his dog can enter. Indra said that the dog would not be allowed to enter his chariot. Yudhishthira refused to leave the dog, as he proved to be a loyal companion and abandoning the dog would be going against Dharma. He was not willing to give up the dog to enter heaven. The dog, pleased to see the commitment of Yudhishthira transformed into his real form, the deity Dharma, his father. He praised Yudhishthira for his outstanding virtues and then Yudhishthira entered heaven on Indra’s chariot.
18 Parvas of Mahabharata
1. Adi Parva (the Beginning)
2. Sabha Parva (the Assembly Hall)
3. Vana Parva also Aranyaka-parva, Aranya-parva (the Forest)
4. Virata Parva (Virata)
5. Udyoga Parva (the Effort)
6. Bhishma Parva (Bhishma)
7. Drona Parva (Drona)
8. Karna Parva (Karna)
9. Shalya Parva (Shalya)
10. Sauptika Parva (the Sleeping Warriors)
11. Stri Parva (the Women)
12. Shanti Parva (Peace)
13. Anushasana Parva (the Instructions)
14. Ashvamedhika Parva (the Horse Sacrifice)
15. Ashramavasika Parva (the Hermitage)
16. Mausala Parva (the Clubs)
17. Mahaprasthanika Parva (the Great Journey)
18. Svargarohana Parva (the Ascent to Heaven)
