After Kurukshetra – Section 4: Return to Hastinapura
---
The Reluctant Victor
The war was over, yet the burden of victory weighed heavier than chains upon Yudhishthira. The eldest Pandava had always been a man of Dharma, a seeker of truth, reluctant even to lie in battle. Now, with his cousins slain, his sons gone, and Hastinapura drowned in grief, he felt no joy in triumph.
When the elders urged him to ascend the throne, Yudhishthira bowed his head and said:
> "What throne do you ask me to take? The kingdom I inherit is soaked in the blood of kin. Every jewel is a widow's tear, every stone of the palace rests on the corpses of warriors. How can I wear a crown that shines with sorrow? Let another rule—I am unfit."
His brothers tried to console him. Bhima, ever fiery, argued:
> "Brother, we fought for Dharma. We fought for what was rightfully ours. Do not throw away the fruits of this war. If we abandon the throne, then our sacrifice, and that of all who died for us, will be in vain."
Arjuna, too, spoke:
> "We did not seek this war, but it came to us. You must rule, Yudhishthira. The people need a king who upholds Dharma, not one who flees from duty."
But Yudhishthira was not convinced. His heart longed not for power but for renunciation, for a life of peace away from the blood-soaked throne.
---
Bhishma on the Bed of Arrows
At this moment of uncertainty, the Pandavas turned to the one elder still alive—Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty. Bhishma still lay upon the bed of arrows, pinned to the earth from Arjuna's shafts on the tenth day of battle. He had chosen to remain alive until the sun turned northward in its celestial path (Uttarayana), for such was the boon he had received—the power to choose the moment of his death.
The Pandavas, along with Krishna, approached him. The sight was solemn: the great warrior who had once terrified armies now lay immobile, his body pierced by countless arrows, yet his spirit unbroken.
Bhishma welcomed them with affection, though his voice was weak:
> "Come, my children. The war is over, but your journey is not. Yudhishthira, I see sorrow in your heart. You must not let grief blind you to Dharma. Sit by me, and I shall teach you the duties of kingship, of justice, of life itself. From my bed of pain, let wisdom flow, for this is the last gift I can give."
---
The Teachings of Bhishma
For many days, Yudhishthira sat by Bhishma's side, while Krishna and the sages gathered. Despite his agony, Bhishma spoke at length, delivering what is known as the Shanti Parva and Anushasana Parva—the discourses on peace, duty, and ethics.
He spoke of the nature of kingship:
> "A king is not the master of his people, but their servant. His duty is to protect, to provide, to uphold justice. Power without Dharma is tyranny; Dharma without power is helpless. Balance both, and you shall be a true king."
He spoke of forgiveness:
> "Hatred breeds hatred, and vengeance consumes the soul. Let the war's end be the end of enmity. Rule with compassion, even toward those who wronged you."
He spoke of the duties of rulers: taxes, justice, protection of the weak, respect for women, and the pursuit of knowledge. He reminded Yudhishthira that a king must be both stern and gentle, like the sun that scorches yet nourishes.
He spoke of Dharma itself:
> "Dharma is subtle, O Yudhishthira. It cannot always be seen clearly, for it shifts with time, place, and circumstance. Even the righteous must sometimes act against simple rules to uphold the greater good. Do not let guilt consume you. What you did in war was for Dharma."
These teachings flowed like a river, each word a drop of wisdom, quenching the fire of Yudhishthira's torment.
---
Krishna's Role
Throughout Bhishma's discourse, Krishna remained silent, smiling gently. He knew that Yudhishthira's heart needed healing not from divine decree but from human wisdom.
When Bhishma paused, Krishna added softly:
> "O Yudhishthira, remember: Dharma is not always the absence of suffering, but the path that leads through suffering toward truth. You bear the burden of kingship because only you can bear it. Your humility makes you worthy to rule, even though you think otherwise."
These words, combined with Bhishma's counsel, began to ease Yudhishthira's guilt. He realized that his renunciation would leave the people leaderless, vulnerable to chaos. To refuse the throne would be another kind of sin.
---
The Passing of Bhishma
As the days passed, the sun moved northward in the heavens. The time came for Bhishma to depart. Surrounded by the Pandavas, Krishna, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti, and the assembled sages, Bhishma prepared for his final journey.
He blessed the Pandavas, his voice resonant despite his pain:
> "Rule with Dharma, my children. Let peace return to this land. May the wounds of war heal, and may your reign bring prosperity to all. Remember, I fall not in despair but in fulfillment, for I have seen the end of my vow."
With his mind fixed on Krishna, whom he recognized as the Supreme Being, Bhishma exhaled his final breath. His soul departed in peace, merging with eternity.
The Pandavas wept, for with Bhishma's passing, the last great pillar of the Kuru house was gone.
---
Yudhishthira Crowned King
After Bhishma's departure, the time came at last for Yudhishthira's coronation. Reluctantly, he accepted, for he now understood that to refuse would be to betray Dharma itself.
The coronation ceremony was grand, though subdued by sorrow. Priests chanted hymns, sacred waters from holy rivers were poured upon his head, and the crown of Hastinapura was placed upon him. Draupadi sat by his side as queen, though her face still bore the shadows of grief.
The people bowed to their new king, but their voices carried no joy, only hope for healing. Yudhishthira accepted the throne not as a prize, but as a duty, a burden he vowed to bear for the sake of Dharma.
---
The State of the Kingdom
The Pandavas now turned their attention to rebuilding Hastinapura. The war had left the land barren: fields trampled, rivers polluted with blood, villages burned. Thousands of families had no men left, no food to eat, no future to hope for.
Yudhishthira began the work of restoration. Taxes were reduced, widows and orphans were provided for, and lands were redistributed to those who had lost their homes. Temples were repaired, sacrifices performed to purify the land, and sages invited to spread knowledge and peace.
Yet despite his efforts, Yudhishthira could never shake the weight of guilt entirely. He ruled wisely, but his heart remained scarred by the memory of war. His brothers stood by him: Bhima enforcing justice with strength, Arjuna guarding the kingdom with valor, Nakula and Sahadeva managing the welfare of the people with fairness. Together, they tried to heal a wounded land.
---
Dhritarashtra and Gandhari in the Palace
After the war, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari continued to live in the palace. Though they had lost their sons, Yudhishthira treated them with respect, offering them royal honors.
But every day, their presence was a reminder of sorrow. Gandhari lived in silent grief, her curse still echoing in the minds of all. Dhritarashtra remained bitter, though age soon dulled his wrath. The Pandavas served them dutifully, honoring them as elders, even though they had been the cause of much suffering.
This forgiveness became a mark of Yudhishthira's reign—he sought reconciliation, not revenge, even with those who once opposed him.
---
The Land After the War
Kurukshetra, once filled with armies, became a desolate plain, haunted by memories. Travelers who passed through heard whispers of spirits, the cries of the slain echoing at night. Rituals were performed to free the souls of the dead, but the land never lost its shadow.
The people of Hastinapura slowly rebuilt, but generations would remember the great war, not as a tale of glory, but as a warning of pride, greed, and fratricide.
---