When Dharma Was Tested by A Dog: Yudhisthira’s Final Trial

 After the Great Kurukshetra War ended, the Pandavas emerged victorious in that fearsome war. Then, they handed the throne to King Parikshit and began their final journey towards Svarga (Heaven). But not all of them made it. One by one, Draupadi and 4 other Pandavas, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, fell on their path, unable to proceed further. In the end, only Yudhisthira remained, walking silently with a dog that had followed him faithfully.

At the gates of heaven, Indra himself appeared and invited Yudhisthira to enter his divine chariot. But, Indra stopped him and said, ‘The dog cannot come inside.’

Yudhisthira calmly replied, ‘If this creature, who trusted me till the end, is denied entry, then I myself refuse heaven.’

But, the King of the Heaven, Indra, argued. Because the dog was unclean. Rules could not be broken.

Yudhisthira didn’t waver. “Abandoning one who seeks refuge is Adharma. I will not commit it, even for heaven.”

At that very moment, the dog, transformed into Dharma (Yama), his divine father. The test was complete. Yudhisthira had proved that true dharma is compassion, not reward.

Lesson:- If morality collapses for personal gain, then heaven itself loses meaning.

That is why Yudhisthira alone entered heaven alive.

Jatāyu’s final words to Rāma!

 Rāma and Lakshmana’s search for Sitā lead them to the place where lay a befallen warrior, who had just sacrificed his life to save Rāma’s beloved Sitā from the evil clutches of Rāvana - Jatāyu.

When Rāma’s eyes found the mutilated and blood soaked body of Jatāyu, he became suspicious for a moment. He reckoned that Jatāyu had killed and feasted on Sitā. With great anger in Rāma’s eyes, he moved amok forwards, nearing Jatāyu's body with every step.

When Jatāyu saw Rāma approaching him, he started apprising him about all that had transpired in his absence, blood flowing uncontrollably from his mouth. “O Ayushmāna, your beloved wife Sitā has been abducted and took away by Rāvana. In your absence, Rāvana came and caught hold of Sitā. At that moment, my eyes fell on her. Immediately, I flew towards Rāvana so as to save Sitā from Rāvana's grip. I confronted and fought Rāvana with all my might, his broken Bow and chariot lie nearby. But Rāvana cut my wings and now I lay here, counting moments to my end. O Rāma, I have been ambushed by Rāvana, kindly do not unleash any offensive on me again.” Jatāyu spoke with great effort.

When Rāma heard Jatāyu’s words, he was instantly overcome with greif and regret. He stepped forward and took Jatayu’s body in his arms with great care. Jatāyu had been a dear ally of King Dashrath and now he lay helpless in such a pitiable condition. Life was slipping away from Jatāyu's body. For one last time, Rāma asked Jatāyu about Sitā's whereabouts. Jatāyu told Rāma that Rāvana had taken Sitā to the southern direction. “The time at which Rāvana took Sitā was such a moment, when any stolen possession is bound to return to it's rightful possessor. Hence, you too shall gain Sitā back.”, reckoned Jatāyu.

Moments later, Jatāyu died. Jatāyu was venerable to Rāma akin to how Dashrath was. Hence, it only behoved Rāma to perform the last rites for Jatāyu the way he would do for his own father. Rāma and Lakshmana cremated Jatāyu with due honour. This was followed by giving Jalānjali for Jatāyu in the Godāvari river.

Finally bidding farewell to Jatāyu, Rāma and Lakshmana moved forward in their expedition to find and rescue Sitā.

Jai Shree Ram! 🪷🕉️🙏

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Source: Sarg 67–68, Aranya Kānd, Vālmiki Rāmāyana