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18. Svargarohana Parva
The Book of the Ascent to Heaven · 5 adhyayas
In heaven Yudhishthira finds Duryodhana seated and his own brothers absent — so he chooses to leave heaven for hell, where his people are suffering. This was his last test. The illusion lifts and all appear in their true divine forms. Vyasa closes with the Bharata Savitri: the whole work distilled into a single cry.
Key Episodes
- Yudhishthira finding Duryodhana in heaven
- The vision of hell, and his brothers calling out
- Yudhishthira choosing his own people over heaven
- The last test completed, and the illusion lifting
- Every figure returning to their true divine form
- The Bharata Savitri — Vyasa's final message
Shlokas
Svargarohana Parva
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विरौम्येष न च कश्चिच्छृणोति माम् । धर्मादर्थश्च कामश्च स किमर्थं न सेव्यते ॥
ūrdhva-bāhur viraumy eṣa na ca kaścic chṛṇoti mām / dharmād arthaśca kāmaśca sa kim arthaṁ na sevyate
With my arms raised I cry out, and nobody listens to me: from dharma come wealth and pleasure — so why is dharma not followed? Vyasa's last words, after a hundred thousand verses.