Mahaprasthanika Parva

[4] Mahaprasthanika Parva recites the journey of the Pandavas across India and finally their ascent towards Himalayas, as they climb their way to heaven on Mount Sumeru.

[6] At the end of Mausala Parva, Vyasa advises Arjuna and his brothers to retire and renounce their kingdom as the purpose of their life has been served.

The Pandavas first 'set out with their faces towards the east', reaching the lauhityaṃ salilārṇavam (literally the red waters, possibly the river Brahmaputra, one of whose names is 'Lohit').

Bhima asks Yudhishthira why Draupadi died early and couldn't continue the journey to heaven.

Yudhishthira claims that though they all were equal unto her she had great partiality for Dhananjaya(Arjuna), so she obtained the fruit of that conduct today.

Yudhishthira explains Sahadeva like his other brothers was virtuous in every respect, except he suffered from the vice of pride and vanity, thought none was equal to him in wisdom.

Yudhishthira explains that Nakula also suffered from the vice of pride and vanity, thinking he was the most handsome person in the world.

Yudhishthira explains to Bhima, Arjuna too suffered from the vice of pride and vanity, thinking he was the most skilled, most powerful hero in the world, disregarding others.

Yudhishthira explains his brother's vice of gluttony, who used to eat too much without thinking about the hunger of others and he also used to boast of his strength.

Indra says that after abandoning his brothers and wife, he had acquired great merit, then why be stupefied by a dog, he is renouncing everything.

Yudhishthira refuses to go into the chariot, explaining he cannot abandon the dog who is his companion, for his own happiness, while he is alive.

The dog, watching Yudhishthira's commitment for his friend, transforms and reappears as deity Dharma.

Two translations from 19th century, now in public domain, are those by Kisari Mohan Ganguli[1] and Manmatha Nath Dutt.

[6] The entire parva has been "transcreated" and translated in verse by the poet Dr. Purushottama Lal published by Writers Workshop.