Mahaprasthanika Parva is the seventeenth Parva among the 18 Parvas of Mahabharat. The book is another essential section as the concluding parts. This section produces the moment of great journey of Yudhishtira and his brothers across the whole country; this book also elucidates their final ascent to the great Himalayas where each Pandava falls except for Yudhisthira. Mahaprasthanika Parva consists of three sections. The number of slokas composed by Vyasa is three hundred and twenty.
In the Mahaprasthanika Parva, an apt description is also found that speaks of the occasion when the Pandavas came across Agni, while travelling on the shore of the sea of red waters. It is also explained in the Book of the Great Journey that Agni asked Arjuna to return him the celestial bow or the Gandiva. The book Mahaprasthanika Parva starts with the introduction of the Pandavas abdicating their kingdom and preparation for their great journey along with Draupadi. After reigning with supremacy for many years the five brothers accompanied by Draupadi started for Himalayas renouncing kingdom and all luxuries. Yudhishtira was also accompanied by a dog.
It is described in the Mahaprasthanika Parva that after travelling for quite sometime, on the way first Draupadi was embraced by death. Next victims were Nakul and Sahadeva, who also died on the way. In the book, Yudhisthira exclaimed the reason for their decease is the weight of their sin. Nakul and Sahadeva were very proud of their looks and knowledge and Draupadi had special preference for Arjun. When Arjuna fell down Yudhisthira succumbed that he had pride about his mastery in archery. Bhima`s fall brought up the sin that he was excessively infatuated with his eating.
In the Mahaprasthanika Parva, it is said that when the dog and Yudhisthira reached Heaven, Lord Indra asked the noble king must leave the dog outside the heaven. In this the Parva quotes Yudhisthira stating, "O Lord, I cannot leave this holy creature who has accompanied me in all trials and tribulations. Either you admit us both or else I do not need the safety and luxury of your Heaven."
It is nicely elaborately said that on hearing Yudhisthira speak thus, the dog changed himself in the form of Dharma Itself and acknowledged Yudhisthira`s righteousness and expressed that people in coming generations for time immemorial will praise and remember him as the most righteous person ever born.
