*KING YUDHISHTHIRA'S ASCENT
TO HEAVEN
The great King Yudhishthira was always known as the King of Justice and righteousness. In hid old age he decided to leave his royal court and to practice the life of renunciation in the high Himalayas. There, amidst the great forests and the snow-peaked mountains, man can look back at his entire life, renounce all his desires and be freed from bondage. There, he can meditate in silence and gain deep inner peace.
On leaving the world, King Yudhishthira left everything behind except for his faithful dog. One day, he was wandering in the mountains when suddenly, in a cloud of light, Indra, the god of heaven, appeared before him in his chariot. Indra invited the great and just king to enter the chariot so that he might ascend to heaven with him. But Yudhishthira first wanted to know whether he would find his queen and brothers there. When the god Indra assured him of their presence in heaven, Yudhishthira was willing to come but only on condition that he could bring his faithful dog too. Now Indra argued with him that there was no place for a dog in heaven and that Yudhishthira had to leave him behind. But the king refused to separate himself from someone who had shown him such loyalty and devotion and who was too weak a creature to be left by himself.
When he was thus fervently pleading for the fate of the animal, the dog suddenly vanished and in his place stood the radiant Dharma, the god of righteousness, who exclaimed: "Praise to you, Yudhishthira, you have renounced the chariot of heaven on behalf of a dog. Happiness will be yours for ever".
Yudhishthira then took a seat in the chariot and ascended to heaven. On arriving there he was surprised not to find his friends. He could only see his former enemies. The gods explained to him not to resent their presence as in heaven all feuds come to an end. Yudhishthira could understand this but if those he had fought were in heaven, where were those he had loved?
When he pleaded to see them, a messenger led him away from the heavenly regions to a place of terror and darkness, a gloomy region where many souls suffer and long for light. Yudhishthira was shown all the terrors of hell but he had every right to return back to heaven. However, he heard the sighing of voices which implored him to stay. On listening more carefully, he recognised their familiar sound: they were the voices of his long lost brothers and queen. Was he awake or did he dream? Those he had hoped to find in heaven, he encountered in hell whilst his former enemies were enjoying heavenly bliss. What injustice! Yudhishthira now refused to return back to heaven on his own. He was going to stay for ever with those he loved - he was going to share their misfortune and lighten their suffering through his presence.
When Yudhishthira had decided to remain with his people, he was suddenly surrounded by a blaze of light in which the gods appeared: "You have seen the terrors of hell but the vision of your kinsmen is an illusion. Shed your mortal form and take your place in heaven where your brothers and friends already dwell. There, before Indra's throne, you will be united and enjoy never-ending glory".
From: Religion in the Multi-Faith School
Ed. W. Owen Cole