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	\| family = '''Parents''' {{bulleted list\|[[Yama (Hinduism)\|Dharmaraja]] (Spiritual Father~~)\| Dhumorna (Spiritual Mother~~)\|[[Kunti]] (Mother)\|[[Pandu]] (Father)\|[[Madri]] (Step-Mother)\|}}'''Brothers'''{{bulleted list\|[[Karna]] by [[Surya]]\|[[Bhima]] by [[Vayu]]\|[[Arjuna]] by [[Indra]]}}'''Step-Brothers''' {{bulleted list\|[[Nakula]] by [[Ashvins]]\|[[Sahadeva]] by [[Ashvins]]}}		\| family = '''Parents''' {{bulleted list\|[[Yama (Hinduism)\|Dharmaraja]] (Spiritual Father)\|[[Kunti]] (Mother)\|[[Pandu]] (Father)\|[[Madri]] (Step-Mother)\|}}'''Brothers'''{{bulleted list\|[[Karna]] by [[Surya]]\|[[Bhima]] by [[Vayu]]\|[[Arjuna]] by [[Indra]]}}'''Step-Brothers''' {{bulleted list\|[[Nakula]] by [[Ashvins]]\|[[Sahadeva]] by [[Ashvins]]}}
	\| children = '''Sons''' {{bulleted list\|[[Upapandavas#Prativindhya\|Prativindhya]] by Draupadi\|[[Characters in the Mahabharata#Yaudheya\|Yaudheya]] by Devika}}		\| children = '''Sons''' {{bulleted list\|[[Upapandavas#Prativindhya\|Prativindhya]] by Draupadi\|[[Characters in the Mahabharata#Yaudheya\|Yaudheya]] by Devika}}
	\| relatives = {{bulleted list\|[[Kauravas]] (Paternal Cousins)\|[[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] (Maternal Cousins)}}		\| relatives = {{bulleted list\|[[Kauravas]] (Paternal Cousins)\|[[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] (Maternal Cousins)}}

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	\| children = '''Sons''' {{bulleted list\|[[Upapandavas#Prativindhya\|Prativindhya]] by Draupadi\|[[Characters in the Mahabharata#Yaudheya\|Yaudheya]] by Devika}}		\| children = '''Sons''' {{bulleted list\|[[Upapandavas#Prativindhya\|Prativindhya]] by Draupadi\|[[Characters in the Mahabharata#Yaudheya\|Yaudheya]] by Devika}}
	\| relatives = {{bulleted list\|[[Kauravas]] (Paternal Cousins)\|[[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] (Maternal Cousins)}}		\| relatives = {{bulleted list\|[[Kauravas]] (Paternal Cousins)\|[[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] (Maternal Cousins)}}

imported>Baddu676: /* Retirement and ascent to heaven */

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Retirement and ascent to heaven

New page

{{Short description|Eldest Pandava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr = Personal Information
| image = Draupadi and Pandavas.jpg
| caption = Emperor Yudhishthira and Empress Draupadi seated on the throne surrounded by other Pandavas
| weapon = [[Spear]]
| spouse = {{hlist|[[Draupadi]]|[[Devika (Mahabharat)|Devika]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date = 16 January 2010|title = The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV}}</ref>
| affiliation = {{bulleted list|[[Pandava]]|[[Mahabharata king]]}}
| family = '''Parents''' {{bulleted list|[[Yama (Hinduism)|Dharmaraja]] (Spiritual Father)|[[Kunti]] (Mother)|[[Pandu]] (Father)|[[Madri]] (Step-Mother)|}}'''Brothers'''{{bulleted list|[[Karna]] by [[Surya]]|[[Bhima]] by [[Vayu]]|[[Arjuna]] by [[Indra]]}}'''Step-Brothers''' {{bulleted list|[[Nakula]] by [[Ashvins]]|[[Sahadeva]] by [[Ashvins]]}}
| children = '''Sons''' {{bulleted list|[[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] by Draupadi|[[Characters in the Mahabharata#Yaudheya|Yaudheya]] by Devika}}
| relatives = {{bulleted list|[[Kauravas]] (Paternal Cousins)|[[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] (Maternal Cousins)}}
}}

In the [[Hindu]] epic, the [[Mahabharata]], '''''Yudhishtira''''' ([[Sanskrit]]: युधिष्ठिर, [[IAST]]: ''Yudhiṣṭhira'') is the first among the five [[Pandava]] brothers. He was the son of the king [[Pandu]] of Kuru and his first wife, [[Kunti]] and was blessed to the couple by the god Dharma, who is often identified with the death god [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]]. In the epic, Yudhishthira becomes the emperor of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Kuru Kingdom]] ([[Hastinapura]]).

From his childhood, Yudhishthira was greatly influenced by his uncle [[Vidura]] and his grandfather [[Bhishma]], and believed in virtues of ''[[dharma]]''. He was trained by two warrior-sages—[[Kripa]] and [[Drona]]. Later, Yudhisthira was appointed as the crown prince of Hastinapura but was replaced by Duryodhana. Because of Kunti's misunderstanding, Yudhishthira and his brothers were married to [[Draupadi]], the princess of [[Panchala]]. [[Dhritarashtra]], on Bhishma's request, divided his [[Hastinapur|kingdom]] to end the succession dispute between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana. The eldest son of Pandu was given a barren land to rule, but he developed the magnificent city of [[Indraprastha]].

After he performed [[Rajasuya]], he became the emperor and was invited to play [[Pachisi]], a game of dice by his jealous cousin, Duryodhana and his uncle, [[Shakuni]]. There Yudhishthira gambled his kingdom, fame, wealth, his brothers, Draupadi and even himself. After the game the Pandavas and Draupadi were sent in exile for thirteen years, with the last year being an incognito. During his exile, he was tested by his spiritual father and for incognito, Yudhishthira disguised himself as Kanka and served the [[Virata|king of Matsya Kingdom]].

Yudhishthira was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]] and defeated many warriors including [[Shalya]]. At the end of the epic, he was the only one among his brothers to [[Entering heaven alive|ascend to heaven]] with his mortal body.

==Etymology==
[[File:Yudhishthir Birla mandir 6 dec 2009 (29).JPG|thumb|Statue of Yudhishthira]]
The word ''Yudhishthira'' means "the one who is steady in the war", from the words, ''yuddha'' (युद्ध) meaning 'war', and ''sthira'' (स्थिर) meaning 'steady'.<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2010-12-26|title=Yudhishthira, Yudhiṣṭhira, Yudhisthira: 15 definitions|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yudhishthira|access-date=2020-09-08|website=www.wisdomlib.org}}</ref> His other names are-

* Bharata Vanshi (भारत वंशी) – descendant of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Ashram|first=Vidur Sewa|title=Age of Bhārata War|year=1979|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|pages=167}}</ref>
* Ajatashatru (अजातशत्रु) – one who is born without enemies<ref>{{cite book|last=Godbole|first=Justin E. Abbott a. Pandit Narhar R.|title=Stories of indian saints|year=1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|isbn=9788120804692|pages=402|edition=4th}}</ref>
* Dharmanandana (धर्म नंदन) or Dharmaputra - The son of Dharma (Righteousness) or Yamraj
* Dharmaraja or Dharmaraya or Dharmaja (धर्मराज) - Lord of Dharma.
* Panduputra (पांडुपुत्र) - Son of [[Pandu]].
* Pandavagrajah - Eldest of Pandavas.
* Jyesthakaunteya - Eldest son of Kunti.
* Sarvabhouma/Samrat Chakravarthi - Emperor of the complete planet Earth.
* Kanka - another name for Yudhisthira given by Draupadi for the 13th year in exile.

==Birth and upbringing==

{{Hinduism_small}}
[[File:Pandu Shoots the Ascetic Kindama.jpg|thumb|230px|left|Pandu Shoots the Ascetic Kindama]]

Once a Brahmin rishi, [[Kindama]] and his wife were enjoying nature in the forest when Yudhishthira's father [[Pandu]] accidentally shot at them, mistaking them for deer. Before dying, Kindama cursed the king to die when he engages in intercourse with any woman. Due to this curse, Pandu was unable to become father. As an additional penance for the murder, Pandu abdicated the throne of [[Hastinapura]], and his blind brother [[Dhritarashtra]] took over the reins of the kingdom.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lochtefeld|first=James G.|title=The illustrated encyclopedia of Hinduism.|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/194|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=Rosen|location=New York|isbn=9780823931798|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/194 194–196]|edition=1st.}}</ref>

After knowing the curse of Pandu, Kunti told him that he could be the father of the child and told her boon of sage Durvasa. Then Pandu requested Kunti to apply her boon and suggested to call [[Dharma]] to get a truthful, knowledgeable and justice knowing son who can rule Hastinapur. On the full moon of May (Sanskrit: Jyeshth masa) first and the eldest of the Pandavas, Yudhishthira was born.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The five pandavas and the story of their birth|url=http://aumamen.com/topic/the-five-pandavas-and-the-story-of-their-birth|access-date=2020-08-31|website=aumamen.com}}</ref>

Yudhishthira's four younger brothers were [[Bhima]], (born by invoking [[Vayu]]); [[Arjuna]], (born by invoking [[Indra]]); and the twins [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] (born by invoking [[Aśvins]]). If [[Karna]], the son of Kunti born before her marriage by invoking [[Surya]], is counted, Yudhishthira would be the second-eldest of Kunti's children.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Yudhishthira was trained in religion, science, administration and military arts by the Kuru preceptors, [[Kripa]] and [[Drona]]. Specifically, he became a master in using the spear and war chariot. It is said that his spear was so strong that it could penetrate a stone wall as though it were a piece of paper. His chariot always flew at a 4 finger distance above the ground due to his piety.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mittal|first=J.P.|title=History of ancient India : a new version|year=2006|publisher=Atlantic|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788126906161|pages=477}}</ref>

==Marriage and children==
After Yudhishthira and his brothers had completed their studies, they returned to [[Hastinapur|Hastinapura]]. [[Duryodhana]] along with [[Shakuni]] planned to kill them and sent Yudhishthira, his siblings and his mother to a palace made of lac, called [[Lakshagriha]]. One night, Shakuni's man, [[Purochana]] set it on fire. However, the princes and their [[Kunti|mother]] survived. They were heartbroken and decided to hide from Hastinapura. Later, [[Arjuna]] attended Draupadi's [[Swayamvara|swayamvar]] and won her hand in marriage. But due to Kunti's misunderstanding, Draupadi became the common wife of all the Pandavas. Later at [[Indraprastha]], Draupadi bore Yudhishthira a son, [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]]. Although Yudhishthira had another wife named [[Devika (Mahabharat)|Devika]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Pandava : Apart from Draupadi, Yudhishthira had one more wife Devika |url=https://www.newstrend.news/183260/draupadi-yudhishter-bheem-arjun-patniyan/ |website=newstrend.news |date=4 November 2018 |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> Draupadi was his chief consort as well as the empress.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chatterjee|first=Mallar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s0jhDwAAQBAJ&q=Yudhishthira+marriage+with+Draupadi|title=Yudhisthira: The Unfallen Pandava|date=2017|publisher=Readomania|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bandyopadhyay|first=Indrajit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LbRLCAAAQBAJ&q=Yudhishthira+marriage+with+Draupadi&pg=PT51|title=Peter Brook's Woman in Mahabharata|date=2016-10-30|publisher=Lulu Press, Inc|isbn=978-1-105-32108-5|language=en}}</ref>

Yudhishthira was married to Devika in a self-choice marriage ceremony, arranged by her father Govasena, who was the king of [[Sivi Kingdom]]. They had a son, Yaudheya. According to Puranas, Yaudheya was also the name of the son of Prativindhya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yaudheya|title=Yaudheya, Yaudheyā: 15 definitions|date=2 July 2016}}</ref>
The [[Bhagavata Purana]], as well as [[Vishnu Purana]], also mention Pauravi as one of the wives of Yudhishthira. A son named Devaka was born to this couple.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/devaka|title = Devaka: 17 definitions|date = 13 August 2014}}</ref>

==Ruling the Indraprastha==
===Division of Hastinapura===
When the Pandavas returned to Hastinapura after hiding, there was conflict between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana regarding as the crown prince of Hastinapura. Yudhishthira was originally made the crown prince of Hastinapura, but after the event of Lakshagriha, people thought that he was dead, and Duryodhana was made the new crown prince of Hastinapura. On [[Bhishma]]'s advice, [[Dhritarashtra]] gave half of the kingdom to Pandavas to rule. However the land was under the control of [[Takshaka]]. Pandavas defeated Takshaka and with the help of [[Mayasura]], they built a magnificent city named [[Indraprastha]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://steemit.com/mgsc/@amarsingh1/hastinapur-will-be-surprised-by-the-secret-of-the-city-of-mahabharata|title = Hastinapur will be surprised by the secret of the city of Mahabharata|date = 13 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=Dhritrashtra+khandavaprastha&pg=PT2606|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Wheeler|first=James Talboys|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K10qAAAAYAAJ&q=bhishma+divides+Hastinapur&pg=PA12|title=A Short History of India and of the Frontier States of Afghanistan, Nipal, and Burma|date=1884|publisher=Macmillan and Company|language=en}}</ref>
===Rajasuya yagna===
[[File:King Yudhisthira Performs the Rajasuya Sacrifice.png|thumb|left|230px|King Yudhishthira Performs the Rajasuya Sacrifice]]

Some years after his coronation at Indraprastha, Yudhishthira set out to perform the [[Rajasuya]] yagna.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Vyas|first=Ramnarayan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fmYAdJHqd3cC&q=crowning+of+Yudhishthira&pg=PA29|title=Nature of Indian Culture|date=1992|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-388-7|language=en}}</ref>

[[Arjuna]], [[Bhima]], [[Nakula]], and [[Sahadeva]] led armies across the four corners of the world to obtain tributes from all kingdoms for Yudhishthira's sacrifice. The non-compliant [[Magadha]] king, [[Jarasandha]] was defeated by [[Bhima]] and Krishna. At his sacrifice, Yudhishthira chose Krishna as his honored guest. At the yajna, many kings were present there, including [[Duryodhana]] and [[Shishupala]]. Shishupala was beheaded by Krishna for his evil deeds. An annoyed and jealous Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Walker|first=Benjamin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6zj3DwAAQBAJ&q=Pandava+conquest+Rajasuya&pg=PA564|title=Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L|date=2019-04-09|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-429-62465-0|language=en}}</ref>

==The game of dice==
Yudhishthira was challenged to play a game of dice in Hastinapura by his cousin, Duryodhana. Duryodhana invited him because he was jealous of Yudhishthira's wealth and power that he witnessed at the Rajasuya. [[Shakuni]] used the dice made from the bones of his father, which always ensured that he got the number he wanted and Yudhisthira was allowed to bet whatever he had he was proud of and had right over. After losing his brothers and his empire, he bet himself and also his wife which lead to the Vastraharan. Later, he lost his kingdom in the game again and was forced into exile for 13 years, which included one year in anonymity.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=isYVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA97 |title= Disorienting Dharma: Ethics and the Aesthetics of Suffering in the Mahabharata |first=Emily |last=Hudson|year=2012|isbn=978-0199860784|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>

== Exile ==

===Yaksha Prashna===
{{main|Yaksha Prashna}}
[[File:Yudhisthira answer to yaksha.jpg|thumb|200px|Yudhisthira answering the questions of Yaksha]]

During their exile, the 4 other Pandavas happened upon a lake, which was haunted by a [[Yaksha]]. The Yaksha challenged the brothers to answer his moral questions before drinking the water; the four Pandavas laughed and drank the water anyway. As a result, they choked on the water and died. Yudhishthira went in last, answered many questions put forth to him by the Yaksha and revived his brothers. He asked for any other wish as he was impressed and told him he could ask for wealth, strength, power, anything he wished. Yudhishthira said he already got the strength, wealth and power when all his four brothers were revived and said he could not ask for any other wish. Sahadeva said if you do not use this wish, we might be in trouble in the future. Arjuna knowing that his brother Sahadeva knows the future told Yudhishthira to ask another wish. Bhima and Nakula also knew that Sahadeva and Arjuna were very smart and told him to use his wish. Later [[Yama]], his father told him to ask for a wish. Yudhishthira said, "Asking for 1 or 2 boons is not being greedy but asking for 3 or more boons is being greedy and it is one of the gravest sins. My brothers are insisting me to ask for a wish and the person who is ready to give me a boon, my father also wants me to ask for another boon. I do not ask for being the wealthiest man nor being the most powerful man. All I ask is that me, my brothers and Draupadi should not be recognized during the 13th year of exile."This story is often cited as an example of Yudhishthira's upright principles.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sehgal|first=Sunil|title=Encyclopaedia of Hinduism|year=1999|publisher=Sarup & Sons|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788176250641|edition=1st}}</ref> The Yaksha later identified himself as Yudhishthira's father, Dharma and pointed them to the kingdom of [[Matsya]] to spend their last year in exile anonymously.

=== Agyatvāsa (Incognito) ===
Along with his brothers, Yudhishthira spent his last year of exile in the kingdom of Matsya. He disguised himself as a [[Brahmin]] named Kank (among themselves Pandavas called him Jaya) and taught the game of dice to the king.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kishore|first=B. R.|title=Hinduism|year=2001|publisher=Diamond Publ.|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788171820733}}</ref>

==Kurukshetra war==

When the period of exile was completed, [[Duryodhana]] refused to return Yudhishthira's kingdom. Yudhishthira made numerous diplomatic efforts to retrieve his kingdom peacefully but in vain. He was convinced by [[Krishna]] to wage war.

The flag of Yudhishthira's chariot bore the image of a golden Moon with planets around it. Two large and beautiful kettle-drums, called Nanda and Upananda, were tied to it.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Kapoor |editor-first=Subodh |title=The Indian encyclopaedia : biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788177552713 |pages=4462 |edition=1st}}</ref> Before the war started, Yudhishthira stepped down from his chariot to take blessings firm his grandsire [[Bhishma]], teachers [[Drona]] and [[Kripa]] and uncle [[Shalya]], who all were in his opposite side in the war showing his respect towards his elders. He also asked the willing Kauravas to join his side. On his request one of [[Dhritarashtra|Dhritrasthara]] sons, [[Yuyutsu]] joined the war on the side of Pandavas.

Yudhishthira was described to be an excellent car-warrior and a master at spear-fighting. Yudhishthira defeated many warriors in the War, such as [[Srutayudha]] and [[Duryodhana]] .He killed Madra king [[Shalya]] and his brother Madrasena on the 18th and final day on the War.

[[File:Yudhistira hits Shalya with arrow of Shakti.jpg|thumb|Yudhishthira kills Shalya with Shakti Spear of Shiva]]

==Reign after the war==
[[File:Yudhisthira arrives in Hastinapur at the end of war.jpg|thumb|230px|Yudhisthira arrives in Hastinapur at the end of war]]
After getting victory in the war, Yudhishthira was crowned as the Emperor of [[Hastinapura]] for 36 years. He performed [[Ashwamedha]] on [[Krishna]] and [[Vyasa]]'s insistence. In this sacrifice, a horse was released to wander for a year, and Yudhishthira's brother Arjuna led the Pandava army, following the horse. The kings of all the countries where the horse wandered were asked to submit to Yudhishthira's rule or face war. All paid tribute, once again establishing Yudhishthira as the undisputed Emperor of Bharat Varsha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 14: Aswamedha Parva Index|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m14/index.htm|access-date=2020-06-09|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Retirement and ascent to heaven==
[[File:Yudhisthira with a dog as a chariot from heaven arrive.jpg|thumb|180px|Yudhishthira and His Dog, Ascending]]

Upon the onset of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]'' and the departure of Krishna, Yudhishthira and his brothers retired, leaving the throne to their only descendant to survive the war of Kurukshetra, Arjuna's grandson, [[Parikshit]]. Giving up all their belongings and ties, the Pandavas, accompanied by a dog, made their final journey of pilgrimage to the [[Himalayas]]. Among the Pandavas and Draupadi, one-by-one died on the way to reach the top, starting from Draupadi. Finally, it was Yudhishthira who was able to reach the top, with the dog accompanying him.

On reaching the top, [[Indra]] asked him to abandon the dog before entering the Heaven. But Yudhishthira refused to do so, citing the dog's unflinching loyalty as a reason. Indra said he let his family die, but Yudhishthira said he could not prevent their deaths, but to abandon a poor creature was a great sin. It turned out that the dog was his god-father Dharma Deva in disguise.<ref>{{cite book|last=Agarwal|first=Satya P.|title=Selections from the Mahabharata : re-affirming Gita's call for the god of all|year=2002|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|isbn=9788120818743|edition=1. Aufl.}}</ref> He then went to heaven and found his Kaurava cousins but not his brothers and Draupadi. He asked Yamraj about this. Yamaraj took him to hell and told him of the sins of Pandavas and their wife. Yudhishthira decides that he would rather live in hell with good people than in heaven with bad people. This is another test and after this the Pandavas and Draupadi attain heaven.

There are three other stories relating to whether Yudhishthira went to heaven or hell.

In the first story he attains hell. While the Pandavas and Draupadi are walking to heaven, Draupadi and his brothers die one by one but Yudhishthira does not look back. He feels as if he has left all his mortal ties by not doing so. When he reaches heaven and does not find Draupadi and his brothers there but finds his Kaurava cousins he asks Yamaraj angrily about his brothers and wife. Yamaraj takes him to hell and tells him about his family's sins. Yudhishthira gets angry as he feels the sins of his family to be small compared to the sins of his cousins. Yamaraj tells him that since he has not renounced mortal ties and is still angry at his cousins, he has attained hell.

In the second story he attains heaven. He reaches heaven and asks Yamaraj about his brothers and Draupadi politely and asks about his cousins as well. Yamaraj takes him to hell and tells him of his family's sins. Yamaraj tells Yudhishthira that he too had to experience hell once for his lie or half lie to Drona about Ashwathama's death. Other's believe it was because he hesitated to lie and thought of human rather than universal Dharma. Yamaraj assures Yudhishthira that his brothers and Draupadi will join him in heaven once they have atoned for their sins.

In the third story Yudhishthira attains heaven. He himself tells his brothers and Draupadi of their sins. When he has to go through hell he only questions how long he has to be there. He knew his sin. He eventually attains heaven with his brothers and Draupadi.
[[File:Yudhistira in hell listening sounds of relatives.jpg|thumb|left|Yudhistira in hell listening sounds of relatives]]
===Yudhishthira's curse===

After he was made aware that [[Karna]] was his elder brother, Yudhishthira cursed all women with not being able to hide any secrets. Had Yudhishthira's mother [[Kunti]] not kept that fact a secret, the war might have been averted, with millions spared.<ref>{{cite book|last=transl.|title=Book 11. The book of the women.|year=2004|publisher=Univ. of Chicago Press|location=Chicago [u.a.]|isbn=9780226252506|editor=Buitenen, J.A.B. van}}</ref>

==Skills==

He was master in spear-fighting and chariot racing. Yudhishthira was a polyglot, knowing unusual languages. He was known for his honesty, justice, sagacity, tolerance, good behavior and discernment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01142.htm|title=Mahabharata Text}}</ref>

[[Dhritarashtra]] said to Sanjaya "The son of [[Kunti]] and [[Pandu]], Yudhishthira, is virtuous and brave and eschews deeds that bring on shame. Endued with great energy, he hath been wronged by Duryodhana. If he were not high-minded, they would in wrath burn the Dhritarashtras. I do not so much dread Arjuna or [[Bhima]] or Krishna or the twin brothers as I dread the wrath of the king, O [[Sūta|Suta]], when his wrath is excited. His austerities are great; he is devoted to ''[[Brahmacharya]]'' practices. His heart's wishes will certainly be fulfilled. When I think of his wrath, O [[Sanjaya]], and consider how just it is, I am filled with alarm."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05022.htm|title=Mahabharata Section XXII}}</ref>

Yudhishthira acquired deep spiritual knowledge from Lord Shiva and many prominent sages including [[Vyasa]], [[Parashurama]], [[Bhrigu]], [[Savarni Manu]], [[Narada]], [[Markandeya]], [[Asita Devala]] and [[Dhaumya]]. (Mahabharata Sabha Parva Section 77).{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

==In the media==

Being an important person in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Yudhishthira's role has been enacted by various actors over the years.

* In the Hindi film [[Draupadi (1931 film)|''Draupadi'' (1931)]], Elizer played the character.
*In the Tamil film [[Karnan (1964 film)|''Karnan'']] (1964), Prem Kumar Played the character.
*In the Telugu film ''[[Veerabhimanyu]]'' (1965), [[Dhulipala Seetarama Sastry|Dhulipala]] played the character.
*In the Telugu film ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' (1977), [[M. Prabhakar Reddy]] played the character.
*In the Hindi television series [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|''Mahabharat'']] (1988) and [[Mahabharat Katha]] (1997), [[Gajendra Chauhan]] portrayed the character.
* In the Hindi television series [[Shri Krishna (TV series)|''Shri Krishna'']] (1993), Raman Khatri portrayed the character.
*In the Hindi television series ''[[Ek Aur Mahabharat]]'' (1997), Virendra Singh played the character.
*In the Hindi television series [[Draupadi (2001 TV series)|''Draupadi'']] (2001,) Arup Pal played the character.
* In the Hindi television series [[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|''Mahabharat'']] (2013), [[Rohit Bhardwaj]] portrayed the character.
* [[Manoj Bajpayee]] has also voiced the character in the Hindi animation film ''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]'' (2013)''.''
*In the Hindi television series ''[[Dharmakshetra]]'' (2014), [[Chandan K Anand]] played the character.
* In the Hindi television series ''[[Suryaputra Karn]]'' (2015), [[Kanan Malhotra]] played the role.
*In the Kannada film [[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|''Kurukshetra'']] (2019), [[Shashi Kumar]] portrayed the character.
* Kanan Malhotra took up the role of Yudhishthira once again, in the show ''[[RadhaKrishn]]''.
* There is a red dragon in the [[Iron Realms Entertainment]] game ''[[Aetolia, The Midnight Age]]'' named Yudhishthira.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.mahabharataonline.com/ Persons and stories from ''Mahabharata'']

{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Commons category|Yudhisthira}}

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[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Entering heaven alive]]

Yudhishthira - Revision history

BharatpediaContributor at 20:41, 17 March 2026

Sridevi Thiru at 07:54, 13 December 2022

103.210.202.141 at 18:28, 4 December 2022

imported>Baddu676: /* Retirement and ascent to heaven */