Svargarohana-parva is the Book of the Ascent to Heaven which contains ninety-eight sub parvas. This book elaborates the period of Yudhisthira`s final test and the return of the Pandavas to the spiritual world. Among the 18 Parvas of Mahabharat, Svargarohana-parva reveals the true character of Yudhishtira.
In the book, Svargarohana-parva it is elucidated that upon the onset of the Kali yuga and when Lord Krishna left his mortal body, Yudhishtira and his brothers retired, leaving the throne to their only descendant Parikshit, who survived the war of Kurukshetra. Giving up all their belongings and ties the Pandavas made their final journey of pilgrimage in the Himalayas. The book Svargarohana-parva describes how Draupadi, and each Pandava, while climbing the peaks succumbed to death as a weight of guilt for their sins. However, Yudhishtira was not affected and reached the mountain peak as he was unblemished by sin or falsehood.
Svargarohana-parva continues with the advent of Indra, King of Gods and who arrived to take Yudhishtira to heaven in his Golden Chariot. As Yudhishtira was about to step into the Chariot, the Deva told him to leave behind his companion a dog. Yudhishtira stepped back, refusing to leave behind the creature who he had taken under his protection. Indra was surprised at Yudhisthira`s behaviour. The book finds an extensive description of the God questioning him about his decision of not arranging proper cremations for his own brothers. The dog was Dharma, Yudhisthira`s father in disguise and thus the righteous Pandava passed the test
On reaching Heaven, Yudhishtira did not find his virtuous brothers or his wife Draupadi. Instead he came across Duryodhana and his evil allies. Svargarohana-parva narrates that the four Pandavas and Draupadi were put into hell (Naraka) atoning their little sins and while Duryodhana was in heaven because he died at the blessed place of Kurukshetra. This Svargarohana-parva describes the life experienced by the four Pandavas and Draupadi in the hell.
In the book, it is also aptly described how on seeing the dangerous situation of his brothers and wife, Yudhishtira preferred to remain, in hell with good people than in a heaven of evil ones. According to the Svargarohana-parva this was yet another illusion to test him and enable him to atone for his sin of using deceit to kill Drona. Svargarohana-parva finally expresses that the four brothers were already in Heaven, along with his enemies, for earthly virtues and vices do not hold true in heavenly realms. Svargarohana-parva enhances the honest character of Yudhishtira for his dharma and the final defining moment of the epic is the instance of divinity bowing down to humanity.
