The Mahabharata as, we know it, showed a battle for righteousness and Dharma between the Pandavas and Kauravas. While Kurukshetra bore witness to the death of unjust Kauravas, the Pandavas went on to rule Hastinapur under the norms of Dharma for 36 years.
After ensuring the safety of their kingdom in the safe hands of their grandson Parikshit (Abhimanyu’s and Uttara’s son), the Pandavas along with Draupati decided to renounce the world, hoping for a place in heaven for all the Dharma that they had followed. For this, they set on a journey, climbing the Meru mountain which could lead them to Swarga Loka (heaven). 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. Indra was pleased by Yudhishthira’s principles and integrity and welcomed him into heaven. It was later revealed to Yudhishthira that the dog was Lord Yama in disguise. Eventually, Yudhishthira entered Indra’s chariot to reach heaven.
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
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). Lord Vishnu was pleased with the acts of King Kuru and blessed him with two boons: first, that this land will forever be a holy land known as Kurukshetra, meaning “the land of Kuru”; second, that anyone dying on this land will go to heaven.
Kurukshetra is also known as Dharmakshetra (Holy Place) and “The Land of Bhagavad Gita.”
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.
The following could be reasons why they died on their way to Swarga: (Individual Sins)
- Draupati was considered imperfect because she preferred Arjun over her other consorts.
- Sahadeva was arrogant about his smugness and knowledge.
- Nakula had excessive admiration for his own looks that he thought that he was the most handsome person in the world.
- Arjun felt insecure. He was also filled with pride and vanity, was jealous of other archers and wanted to be the most skilled and most powerful warrior in the world.
- Bheem was considered as a glutton, who over-ate without thinking about the hunger of others.
(Reader’s Note: There are different versions to how this incident is concluded. All the versions that I’m aware of, are listed below.)
- a. However, Yudhishthira was reassured that this was temporary, and once the debt was repaid, they’ll join Swarga. Yudhishthira loyally met his brothers, but the sight and sound of blood and gore in Naraka terrified him. Initially, he was tempted to flee. But on hearing the voices of his beloved ones calling out to him to stay with them through the misery, he mastered himself. He also ordered the divine charioteer to leave, for he desired to stay with good people even if it meant going through hell, rather than living with his enemies in heaven. Eventually this turned out to be another illusion to test him and make him pay for his sin of telling one white lie (lie about Ashwathama’s death to Dronacharya).
b. Another version of this story revolves around the point where Yudhishthira stayed back at hell. The Gods came to the place where Yudhshthira was. They mentioned to him “As a rule, every person must see both heaven and hell; if a person did good deeds, they see hell first and enjoy heaven later, and vice versa applies for the sinned souls. Now that you have seen what hell is, let’s go back to heaven. Your beloved ones had gotten their share of glimpse of hell and await you in heaven.” Once Yudhishthira met everyone (Pandavas, Draupati and Kauravas) at Swarga, they realized that they were incarnations of a Deva, Asura, Yaksha, Gandharva or Apsara and merged with their original entities. Yudhishthira merged with Lord Yama. - After knowing about the sins of his beloved, Yudhishthira felt that these sins were very small in front of the sins that the Kauravas had committed. He became extremely angry at this injustice and refused to go to heaven.
Seeing this, the Devas laughed and asked, “Hadn’t you renounced everything? Weren’t you the one who didn’t even look back when they fell one by one? Although you had renounced everything from your clothes to your kingdom, you haven’t given up on your hatredness towards Kauravas. Isn’t it enough that you punished them by defeating and killing them in a war and ruled the kingdom for 36 years? If you are still carrying your past baggage and negative emotions, how can you be in heaven?” - Lord Yama took Yudhishthira to hell, where Yudhishthira saw his beloved ones suffering. After explaining him the reason for their suffering, Lord Yama takes Yudhishthira back to heaven after assuring him that they would join him after they get freed from their sins.
- One version of this story portrays as if there is no conflict between the Kauravas and Yudhishthira. Instead, Yudhishthira explains to Bheem about the reasons for why the others could not continue the journey. At one point when Bheem falls and asks about the reason behind it, Yudhishthira says “because of your gluttony.” Then, Yudhishthira and (Lord Dharma disguised as) the dog head towards Swarga.
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. More than meaning Heaven or Hell in literal sense, it’s about seeing them as states of mind. One must relinquish anger and hate to achieve peace (heaven), else they tend to suffer (hell).
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Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-Pandavas-except-Yuthishtra-go-to-hell-And-why-did-the-Kauravas-go-to-heaven
https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/karma-why-pandavas-went-to-hell
https://mythgyaan.com/why-pandavas-went-to-hell-kauravas-to-heaven/
https://www.storypick.com/mahabharata-aftermath/
Mythology And Vaishbhat 
I agree that pandavas have to pay for what they did, even it’s small bad deeds .
Isn’t it enough, even they lost their sons in kurukshetra? Isn’t it enough they got somany punishment without wrong doings??
If the punishment for Duryodhana in the battle field is enough then how come it’s not enough for pandavas suffering when they were alive?
I agree if still pandavas had to go to hell, let them go.
But Duryodhana in the battle field didn’t died until he hear the news of pandavas death. He had so much hatred on pandavas.
Why should he go to heaven then?
Why didn’t he go to hell?
Even if he sees the heaven he have to go to hell before his moksha .
This is justice. Not to pandavas. It’s justice to Dharma.
Pandavas just followed Krishna’s instructions.
He never lied or cheated.
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Hi Rashmi! Thank you so much for taking time to read my post and for sharing your thoughts. 😊
Yes, just like you, even I agree that the Pandavas went through quite a lot. Duryodhana was full of hatred, he tried numerous ways to make the lives of Pandavas as miserable as possible. To be honest, things could have gone way worse for the Pandavas, but since they had The Almighty, Krishna, by their side, they survived it all. But Duryodhana going to heaven is a wonderful stroke of luck that he had, due to his death at Kurukshetra.
In one of the many versions that I mentioned in my post, it goes like “As a rule, every person must see both heaven and hell; if a person did good deeds, they see hell first and enjoy heaven later, and vice versa applies for the sinned souls.” So, we could assume that Duryodhana had his time at heaven and then eventually went to hell to pay for his deeds. Although I’ve not come across any version citing his time at hell, this is something we could leave it to our imagination!
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