Yudhishthira believed that since all six of them had been wronged their entire life and despite that stuck to the path of fairness and justice they would be able to enter heaven in their mortal form. With this belief they set out for their final journey. However, as they kept climbing, they realised just how wrong they were in their assumptions. Before long, Draupadi falls down dead much to the perplexation of Bhima.
Yudhishthira, who by now had realised his folly, explains that the reason she died was that she was disproportionately in love with Arjuna when, in fact, she was supposed to love her five husbands equally. Sahadev falls next. Yudhishthira explains to Bhima again that their youngest brother, though quiet was too proud of his wisdom, which was a sin too.
Similarly, Nakul, who is the next to die, was vain about his looks which too was a sin. As the three eldest Pandavas continue their trek up Sumeru, Arjuna falls. Bima falls next. As he is dying, he asks what his sin was. It was his gluttony that finally cost him his privilege of entering the heavenly realm in his human form. He reaches the pinnacle of Sumeru and sure enough is greeted by Indra, the king of gods. Indra invites him into the chariot but Yudhishthira refuses to enter without the dog.
At which point, the dog reveals his true avatar — as Dharma, the divine father of Yudhishthira. The eldest Pandava thus enters the heavens in his mortal form but is surprised to see the Kauravas there too. He asks for the whereabouts of his brothers and wife and is told that they were, in fact, in hell.
It was because of the Kurukshetra land itself. It is named after the King Kuru of the Kuru clan. When King Kuru came on this land, it was known as Uttaradevi. He performed several righteous acts and embedded 8 good virtues in this land. Lord Vishnu was pleased by his righteous acts on this land and granted a boon to him. This way, everybody including the Kauravas who died in the war, on this land will go to heaven.
This is how the Kauravas who die at Kurukshetra doing their duty as Kshatriyas warriors will find a place in heaven. At the time of doing karma, nobody could ever know whether they are doing good or bad. Yudhishthira not satisfied with this explanation, enquire about his brothers and wife. Indra takes him from Swarga to Naraka, from heaven to hell, a place full of misery. Yudhishthira feels that compared to the sins committed by the Kauravas, these are very small faults.
You have given up everything including your clothes, your kingdom but not your anger and hatred towards Kauravas. You defeated them in the war and killed them, punishing them for their misdeed, and ruled over their kingdom for 36 years. You still have not forgiven them. You are carrying your past baggage and are still attached to your negative emotions.
So how can you be in heaven? Another version of the story says that the dog was none other than Yama god of death. He took Yudhishthira to the underworld hell where he sees his wife and brothers. Yama explains to him why his siblings and wife were there in hell and then takes back Yudhishthira to heaven. He assures him that his brothers and wife will join him in heaven after they have been freed from their sins. There is also a third version of the story. In this version, there is no conflict between Yudhishthira and the Kauravas.
On their way, they befriended a dog too. But as they proceeded, they slipped, fell and died one by one. Draupati first, followed by Sahadeva, Nakula, Arjun and finally, Bheem.
It is said that Yudhishthira did not turn his back even once and refused to help any one because he had renounced everything when he embarked on this journey. He also thought that renouncing everything would fetch him a place in Swarga, else he too would die.
As Yudhishthira and the dog continued climbing the mountain, they were welcomed by Lord Indra in his chariot. Indra said that Yudhishthira had been the true Dharmaraj King of Dharma by being virtuous at all times and invited him into his chariot, offering him to take him to the final door of Swarga.
Yudhishthira requested Lord Indra to permit the dog to come along, to which Indra dissaproved. Yudhishthira stayed adamant on taking the dog along.
Yudhishthira refused to enter Swarga without the dog. He believed that both have equal merits and said that he will either enter Swarga with the dog or not enter at all for the sake of justice. It was later revealed to Yudhishthira that the dog was Lord Yama in disguise. On reaching Swarga , Yudhishthira could not find any of his virtuous brothers or his wife.
Instead he was shocked and enraged at seeing the adharmi Kauravas enjoying in heaven. It was brought to his notice that they were in heaven because of the land of Kurukshetra.
Different versions of this incident portray that this explanation to Yudhishthira was given by Lord Indra, Lord Yama or Narada. Kurukshetra was named after King Kuru of the Kuru clan, until which the land was known as Uttaradevi. He performed several righteous acts and embedded 8 good virtues in this land — the eight virtues being: austerity Tapas , truth Satya , forgiveness Kshama , kindness Daya , purity Shuddha , charity Daana , devotion Yajna , and conduct Brahmacharya.
This was how the Kauravas, who had died at Kurukshetra doing their duty as Kshatriyas warriors , found a place in Swarga. This instance increases the complexity of the concept of Karma. However, Yudhishthira was not satisfied with this explanation and enquired about his siblings and wife.
That was when he was taken from Swarga heaven to Naraka hell , a place full of misery. There, he noticed that his brothers and wife were suffering for their individual sins. Whatever the version of this story maybe, it is important to learn from this story that unless and until a person gives up on hate, anger, greed or lust, one cannot reach heaven.
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