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The Mahabharata, also called as the Kurukshetra War, is described to be one of the well-known epics in Hinduism. It began due to a conflict that arose between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas, and Pandavas, due to the struggle for dynastic succession to the throne of Hastinapura, in an Indian kingdom called Kuru. Almost all of Bharatvarsha’s kings took place in the war, and nearly the entire warrior class named kshatriyas perished in it. Many ancient kingdoms participated as allies of the rival groups in of the battle occurred in Kurukshetra, whose modern-day location is the state of Haryana. The number 18 is an important number in Mahabharata; Duryodhana had 11 Akshouhini soldiers and Pandavas had 7, making a total of eighteen; there are 18 chapters in Mahabharata and last but not the least, the war lasted exactly for eighteen days, since sunrise to sunset.
However, this epic does not end soon as the battle at Kurukshetra ends. To summarize, after the war ended in favor of the Pandava side, they went on to rule over the Kuru kingdom for 36 years. At the end of these 36 years, their mentor, cousin, and key advisor, Lord Sri Krishna returned to his heavenly abode. Unable to bear his separation, the Pandava brothers renounced the world, and attained heaven, leaving the kingdom in the hands of their sole heir- Parikshit. Although, little is known about what happens post the Kurukshetra war. Here, we get to you the scene from this epic, Mahabharata, post the war.
Dhritarashtra and Gandhari’s visit to Kurukshetra
On the 18th day, after the Pandavas killed the entire army of the Kauravas, it was declared that they won the battle. Learning about this, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, along with Vidura and Sanjaya, visit the battlefield. At the battlefield, they meet Lord Sri Krishna and the Pandavas. Upon seeing the dead bodies of their sons lying around, the royal couple was devastated. While Gandhari wept seeing the situation, Lord Sri Krishna tried to console her by giving knowledge about life and death of human, through stories. However, this had no impact on the royal couple.
The couple after being greeted by the Pandavas were really anguished. In anger, Dhritarashtra tries to kill Bheema who was responsible for the death of his eldest son, Duryodhan. However, he failed at doing so. Then, the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira, filled with immense guilt, with folded hands said to both of them, that he is the reason for all this disaster. No one but only he should be blamed for this slaughter and should be cursed by them.
Gandhari’s curse to Lord Krishna
However, Gandhari was blown by the sorrow of a mother who lost all her hundred sons, went on to accuse Lord Sri Krishna for her loss. She curses lord Sri Krishna that the way she had to witness the slaughter of her clan, he too would have to witness the downfall of the Yadava clan; and that they will all eventually begin to fight against each other and kill each other; that his kingdom would then get drowned by the oceans and he will die a cruel death only after witnessing the end of his own clan.
She says, “Oh Krishna! The eternal Lord of the Universe, thou art the Director and the chief performer of this entire gory drama happened in the name of Kurukshetra war. Millions of men were slain, their spouses and children now weep inconsolably. Listen to their saddening screams, oh! Gopala! Once there were cuckoos gleefully singing in this beautiful country but now dogs and wolves happily howl after filling their stomachs by feeding on the rotting carcasses that are indistinguishable whether these are that of the warriors or of the horses and elephants.
You drank Kshatria blood of 21 generations as Parasurama. Are you still thirsty for more? Behold ! Our entire clan is obliterated. I lost all my hundred sons and my many beloved grandsons. Pandavas too lost all of their siblings and children. O Kesava, our entire vamsa vruksha (family tree) was burnt down to ashes. Let me ask you why did you let this gruesome war happen in the first place? Why?
You know everything and you could have prevented this carnage, for you have the inimitable power to do so. You could have brokered peace with your full potential but you failed to do, Oh! the mighty, miraculous, omni-potent son of Nandagopala! can you ever get to understand a mother’s pain of losing her children? Indeed, you took birth after killing six of your elder siblings in the guise of Karma (fate). Ask your mother about the pain.
Now you watched the brothers of the same family slay each other with vengeance but you took side unjustifiably to annihilate only my sons. Now if I have acquired my deserving merit and power owing to my pathivratha (being a truthful wife to my husband) dharma, I shall curse thee! Just how I happened to bear the grievous burden of watching my entire family and relatives perish in the war, in 36 years from today, your Vrishni clan will also be destroyed by infighting and you will die in great pain watching it happening right in front of your eyes. Just as the mothers, wives, and sisters of the warriors died in Kurukshetra, women in your country, Dwarka, will have to weep, scream and cry over the huge piles of dead bodies!”
Although, a while later Gandhari realizes her mistake and apologizes to Lord Sri Krishna for her curse, however it was not taken back by her. Lord Krishna accepted this curse from Gandhari, he then explains how it would help rid the earth of the tyrannical Yadavas whom he himself had found it difficult to restrain. After this scene, they proceed to the Pyres that were constructed to cremate the deceased warriors and the rituals that followed were completed. Then the mother of Pandavas, Kunti, revealed the truth that Karna was none other than her eldest son and their elder brother. Upon learning the truth about Karna’s identity, Yudhisthra – along with his four brothers, weeps a lot and curses the entire women that they won’t be able to hide any truth now onwards.
Yudhishtara as the King of Hastinapura
After the cremation ceremony of all the deceased warriors, all the Pandavas, along with lord Krishna, returned to the palace at Hastinapur. Yudhishtira, the eldest Pandava, was persuaded philosophically to abandon his guilt regarding the war, and accept the position of Hastinapur’s new king. Reluctant, especially after discovering that Duryodhana’s friend Karna, whom Arjun killed during the war, was none other than his own brother, Yudhishtira refused. Finally, after much persuasion, he accepted. Hence, Yudhishtira was crowned as the new King of Hastinapur.
Bhishma, the Pandava’s grandfather who lay injured at the battlefiled, gave his final wisdom to the new king. After doing this, he invoked his father’s boon of ‘Ichha Mrityu’ (death as per his wish) and abandoned his mortal body. The war left Dhritrashtra and Gandhari at the mercy of the Pandavas, though they took care of them. It is believed that Bheema often enjoyed boasting about how he killed all Kauravas with his bare hands. This constantly reminded the couple of their loss every single day until one fine day they decide to leave the palace of Hastinapur.
Soon after this, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari make their mind to retire to woods and to do penance. Though Yudhishtira did not want to let them go, he was later convinced by the others in the palace and hence he let them go. Seeing this, Vidura and Sanjaya also wanted to accompany them and lastly, the mother of the Pandavas, Kunti, also accompanies them to the woods. The began to perform penance there and are said to have died in one of the forest fires.
Destruction of the Yadava clan
The curse of Gandhari eventually began to show its effects. After 35 years post the Kurukshetra war, the effects of this curse came live and it polluted the minds of the Yadavas and they start to act worse than wild animals. On one fine day when one of them insults a well-known sage in the disguise of a woman, it resulted in angering the sage who later on curses them that an iron rod would be born out of the person disguised as women which will annihilate the entire clan. This man was none other than a son of Lord Krishna. This soon turned out to be true and led to the destruction of the entire clan of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna’s clan soon ended up killing each other out of a verbal tiff with grass blades. He then had given birth to an iron rod which took the form of magical weapons which the Yadav’s used to kill one another.
Soon after this destruction of the Yadava clan, Lord Krishna sends one of his messengers to the palace at Hastinapur and he then narrates all incidents to the Pandavas. The messenger conveys that Lord Krishna asked him to tell Arjuna to help the women, children and old age people who were left behind in Dwarka. After this scene, Lord Krishna gets killed as per the curse of Gandhari; he was accidentally shot in the sole of his foot by a hunter. It is believed that this marked the end of his human form and he is said to have ascended to Vaikuntha Loka (Lord Vishnu’s abode). This marked the end of Dwapara Yuga, one of the Four Yugas in Hinduism and the beginning of the kali yuga.
Arjun then rushed to Dwarka and as per the instructions from Lord Krishna, he tried to save the remaining Yadavas. He escaped Dwarka with their women and children and the 16000 wives of Lord Krishna, who seemed to be the only survivors. Eventually, Dwarka sunk in the sea forever. A group of bandits attacked Arjun and the Yadav women and children. Arjuna, the most celebrated warrior of the epic, fails to protect most of them and starts to question his warrior abilities. Unable to rescue them, Arjun, being one of the greatest warriors, was sunk in immense guilt. He then visited the sage Veda Vyas in a disturbed state. The sage told him it was time he and his family left this world. Soon after this, Arjun enthroned Lord Krishna’s grandson Vajra, as the king of the remaining Yadavas at the land of Indraprastha.
The Ultimate journey of Pandavas
Upon learning about the advice of sage Veda Vyasa, the Pandavas along with their wife Draupadi, decide to climb the Himalaya mountain ranges. Before they left, Yudhishtira crowned Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu as the new king of Hastinapur. The five brothers, and their wife Draupadi, then travelled to the Himalaya mountains. On their way, a dog befriends them and accompanies them for the entire journey. This dog is said to be none other than the Lord of Death, Yama Dharma Raja, who accompanies them. While ascending the Himalayas, Draupadi and each of the four Pandavas with an exemption of Yudishtira fall down the mountain. In this series, Draupadi becomes the first one to fall, followed by Sahadeva, Nakula, Arjuna, and Bhima. Seeing the death of his wife and his brothers, Yudhishthira explains the failings of each one of them. Yudhishthira and the dog continue on their ascent.
As the dog and Yudhishthira climb up the Mount Meru, there awaited one last test to Yudishtira. Only the eldest, Yudhistir, made it to heaven after a series of tests by the Gods, to assess his adherence to dharma. All of a sudden, Lord Indra appears on his chariot asking Yudhishthira to commence with him, his final journey to heaven. Upon hearing his offer, Yudhishthira then asks him to take the dog along with them as a request to lord Indra. This request however was then disapproved by Lord Indra. But Yudhishthira stays adamant on his request of taking the dog along.
It is only later on that Yudhishtira is made to realise that the dog was actually the deity Dharma, who was impressed by Yudhishthir’s virtues and later on appreciates him for following his Dharma even at such a critical situation. Eventually, he enters in Lord Indra’s chariot to heaven. At the gates of heaven, lord Yama takes him on a tour through the gallows of hell. In hell, Yudhishtira witnesses his brothers and Draupadi redeeming their sins. Then, Yama Raja takes Yudhistira to heaven and promises him that his brothers and Draupadi will be there. Once in heaven, Yudhishtira was reunited with his family, Lord Krishna, his parents, sons and all those who died in the war. The Pandavas also met Duryodhan, his brothers and their other enemies. However now, all enmity was over, and they are said to have embraced each other like brothers.
While the above described events took place in heaven, back at Hastinapura, Parikshit’s son Janamejaya succeeded his father. He went on to become the first person to hear a recitation of the Mahabharatha. Sage Veda Vyasa, the composer of the epic taught the story to his student Vaishampayan, who then narrated it to Janamejaya.
