Yudhisthir and the Dog - A Moral Story for Children

Yudhisthir and the Dog - A Moral Story for Children

A story from the Mahabharata that highlights Yudhisthir's compassion and unwavering commitment to dharma, even in the face of Heaven's gate.

The Final Journey

Yudhisthir, his brothers and their wife Draupadi had decided to go on their final pilgrimage. It was a pilgrimage up a difficult mountain path which would lead to heaven. If one of them fell on the way, the others would have to leave him and continue ahead on their own paths.

Yudhisthir walked first, followed by Bheem, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev and Draupadi. Somewhere along the way, a dog joined them on their journey.

One by One

Draupadi was the first to fall, followed by Sahadev, Nakul, Arjun and Bheem. Then, Yudhisthir went ahead on his path, all alone. The dog followed him wherever he went.

Meeting Indra

When Yudhisthir reached the mountain peak, Lord Indra Himself came to take him to Heaven. As Yudhisthir sat in Indra's chariot, he insisted that the dog accompany them too.

Indra said, "That is impossible. A dog cannot enter Heaven. You must leave it here. You can enter Heaven due to your extraordinary qualities. But the same cannot be said of the dog."

The Loyal Heart

Yudhisthir then calmly told Indra, "If my dog cannot accompany me to Heaven, I too shall not go. The dog has been faithful to me. It loved me unconditionally. I cannot forsake it even for the sake of Heaven!"

The Reveal

Lord Indra was pleased with Yudhisthir's words and said, "O Yudhisthir! No other person in your place would have forsaken Heaven for a dog. You stand apart among all humans! The dog who followed you was the Lord of Dharma Himself who wanted to test you."

Pearls of Wisdom

1. What qualities of Yudhisthir can we notice from this story?

Through his behaviour, Yudhisthir showed great compassion for the dog. He was unfazed by the chance of entering Heaven. He had always believed in behaving righteously and with equanimity and this time too, he did the same. Even at the possibility of having to forgo Heaven, he refused to leave the dog behind.

🌟 Moral of the Story: Loyalty and compassion are the true tests of dharma. Even the gates of Heaven are not worth betraying those who love and trust you. 🌟

Disclaimer: This story is based on a moral lesson from the Mahabharata and is shared for educational purposes. All content rights belong to their respective sources. Please contact us for any concerns.