🌅 Part 6: After the War

After 18 days of intense battle, only a few warriors remained alive. Though the Pandavas had won, their hearts were filled with grief. So many friends, family members, and great warriors were lost.

Gandhari, mother of the Kauravas, was devastated. She cursed Krishna that his own Yadava clan would also destroy itself in the future — just like her family.

👑 Yudhishthira Becomes King

Yudhishthira was crowned the King of Hastinapura. But he was not happy. He blamed himself for the war and all the destruction it caused. To purify himself and bring peace to the kingdom, he performed a grand Ashwamedha Yagna (horse sacrifice ceremony).

Bhishma, still alive on his bed of arrows, gave Yudhishthira deep lessons on dharma, leadership, and life before finally choosing to leave his body.

💫 Krishna’s Departure

Years passed. Krishna returned to Dwarka, ruling peacefully. But the curse of Gandhari slowly came true. One day, a conflict broke out among the Yadavas, and they killed each other in a drunken fight.

Krishna went into the forest to meditate. There, a hunter named Jara, mistaking him for a deer, shot him with an arrow. Thus, Krishna left the world, bringing the age of Dvapara Yuga to an end.

🚶‍♂️ The Pandavas’ Final Journey

After ruling for many years, the Pandavas felt it was time to give up worldly life. They crowned Parikshit (Abhimanyu’s son) as king and left for the Himalayas, walking towards heaven.

As they climbed, one by one, each Pandava fell — due to their personal flaws:

• Draupadi, for partiality to Arjuna

• Sahadeva, for pride in wisdom

• Nakula, for pride in beauty

• Arjuna, for pride in bravery

• Bhima, for gluttony and anger

Only Yudhishthira reached the gates of heaven — along with a faithful dog. There, he was tested one final time. The dog was Dharma himself, testing his loyalty and compassion.

Yudhishthira entered heaven not for victory, but because he had always followed truth and righteousness.

🌟 Final Message of the Mahabharata:

The Mahabharata is more than a story of war. It’s a mirror to human nature, showing the consequences of ego, greed, jealousy — and the power of truth, sacrifice, and dharma. Victory in life is not about defeating others, but mastering yourself.

✨ And thus ends the Mahabharata — a timeless epic of love, loss, duty, and truth. ✨