Yudhisthir and The Dog

The Pandavas were firm in their resolve to renounce their kingdom. They began the ascent of a mountain as part of their final journey in life. Yudhisthira, a kind and dutiful king, led the way followed by Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and Draupadi. A dog also accompanied them through their journey. This dog was Yudhisthir’s faithful companion. Wherever he went, the dog followed him. On the road to heaven, the dog followed him there too.

Yudhishthir tried to send the dog home. “Go home, ‘mere pyaare dost’. You cannot come with us,” he said to his dog, but the dog continued walking behind him.

He tried in various ways to send home the dog but ‘kuch nahin’! The dog just would not budge. He spoke to his dog, “The road to heaven is a long, long way from here. ‘Lambaa raasta. Bahut mushkil.’  It’s a long and very difficult journey. The road is tough. You will feel tired, hungry and thirsty. Go home, I say.” The dog stood still. He continued following him. ‘Aagey chaley.’ They both went.

The journey was becoming tougher and tougher. As they climbed higher and higher it was becoming colder and colder. The air was freezing. One by one, Yudhishthir’s brothers collapsed and died. But Yudhishthir did not stop.  The dog walked behind him.

Suddenly a bright flash of light appeared before him. He stopped. ‘Kaun hai?’ Who could it be?  He then recognised Indra, the king of the heavens, standing in his chariot before them.

“I have come to take you to heaven, Yudhisthir,” spoke Indra. “‘Aawo. Rath chadho.’ Climb into my chariot.”

“Really?” answered Yudhishthir, much to his surprise.

“Yes, you are the only person I have ever allowed into heaven without changing your human body. Come on, climb in.”

Yudhisthir was stunned. He asked, “But where are my brothers and Queen Draupadi?”

“‘Sach hai.’ True. They died. They could not make the final journey,” replied Indra.

“But I cannot go without them,” was Yudhishthir’s response.

Indra was quick to reply. He said to the disturbed king, “Don’t worry. ‘Chintaa mat karo.’ They are already there in ‘swarg’. They are waiting for you. All those whom you love are there waiting for you.”

“‘Sach hai?’ Is that so? Then I will go with you.’ Yudhishthir looked down at the dog and said, “Come , ‘mere pyaare’ puppy. ‘Aawo aawo’. Get into the chariot.”

“What!!” shouted Indra. “ A dog? A dog in my chariot?  A dog in heaven? Oh no! Never! ‘Kabhi nahin!!’ There are no dogs in heaven. You will get into the chariot and leave the dog behind.”

Yudhisthir was not ready to do such a thing. “I cannot do that,” Yudhisthir replied. “On this terrible journey, my dog has been my dear and faithful friend. He walked through the rough road.  My brothers died. One by one they left me. My queen went too. But this dog has always been at my side.”

Indra was furious. He shouted to him, “Are you mad? ‘Paagal hai?’ You have to go to heaven in your bodily form because you are great and good, but there is no place in heaven for men with dogs. The dog has to be left behind.”

Yudhisthir remained firm saying, “Well then. I shall not go to heaven without him. He depends on me and as long as I live I shall look after him. I shall do what is right. To abandon him now would not be right. I would never leave him, if even to please you, Indra.”

Indra tried in many ways to persuade him to change his mind. He said, “Now think for a moment. He is a dog. He kills and eats other animals, doesn’t he? Is that right? He is a wicked dog and he will go to hell!”

Yudhisthir stood still as Indra continued, “Yes, you will go to heaven and he has to go to hell.”

“Then I shall not go to heaven without him,” Yudhishthir said again.

Indra had the answer for the king. He said “Well, now, you cannot take him to heaven with you, but if you wish, you can exchange with him. He can go to heaven instead of you and you can go to hell.”

“Agreed, agreed,” cried Yudhisthir. “Let the dog go to heaven. I shall go to hell.”

As soon as these words were spoken by the great king, the dog suddenly changed his form. He was ‘Dharma’. Yes. ‘Dharma’. Righteousness. Truth. Goodness and duty.

“Oh great king,” Dharma said, “you are indeed an unselfish man. You love people and you love animals. Your heart is full of love for all. You can safely take your journey to heaven. I will always accompany you there. Your heart is full of love for all.”

O friends, we have learnt a most useful lesson. We should always treat everyone and every animal with respect, for we don’t know which form God will take when he comes.