Yudhishthira's Dog

After the great Mahabharata war, the Pandavas renounced their kingdom and set out on a journey to heaven. The five Pandava brothers and Draupadi walked toward the Himalayas. Along the way, a stray dog joined them. The journey was extremely difficult. One by one, Draupadi, Sahadeva, Nakula, Arjuna, and Bhima fell and could not continue. In the end, only Yudhishthira and the faithful dog remained. They reached the gates of heaven. Indra, king of the gods, sent his chariot and invited Yudhishthira to enter heaven. But Indra said the dog could not be allowed inside. Yudhishthira firmly refused. He declared that this dog had stayed loyal throughout the entire journey and he would not abandon it to enter heaven. One who deserts a faithful companion does not deserve paradise. At that moment, the dog transformed and revealed its true form — it was Dharmaraj Yama, the God of Righteousness himself. This had been Yudhishthira's final test. Pleased with his unwavering loyalty and compassion, Dharmaraj granted Yudhishthira entry into heaven in his mortal body.