Today we are telling you about a wonderful incident related to Mahabharata when all the heroes were killed in the Mahabharata war like Bhishma, Dronacharya, Duryodhana, Abhimanyu, sons of Pandav, Kaurav, Karna, Shikhandi, etc. were resurrected for one night. This incident took place 15 years after the end of the Mahabharata War. Also, we will tell you how Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti, and Vidur died.
After Mahabharat war
After becoming the king, Yudhishthira started ruling righteously and justly in Hastinapur. Yudhishthira used to do other work every day only after taking the blessings of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. In this way, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahdev, Draupadi, etc. were always engaged in the service of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, but Bhima always had hatred towards Dhritarashtra in his mind. Bhima used to say such things in front of Dhritarashtra which was not worth saying.
After 15 years of War
Thus 15 years passed while Dhritarashtra, Gandhari lived with the Pandavas. One day Bhima said such things in front of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, on hearing which they felt very sad. Then Dhritarashtra thought that it has been a long time since he lived under the shelter of the Pandavas. That’s why now Vanprastha Ashram (living in the forest) is appropriate. Gandhari also agreed to go to the forest with Dhritarashtra. Vidura and Sanjaya decided to go to the forest along with Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Thinking of going to the forest, Dhritarashtra called Yudhishthira and told the whole thing in front of him.
At first, Yudhishthira felt very sad, but later on the saying of Maharishi Vedvyas, Yudhishthira agreed. When Yudhishthira came to know that Vidura and Sanjaya were also going to the forest along with Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, his grief knew no bounds. Dhritarashtra told that he would travel to the forest on the full moon of the month of Kartik. Before going to the forest, Dhritarashtra asked Yudhishthira for money for the shraadh of his sons and other relatives.
Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Vidur, Sanjay and Kunti went to Vanvas
Bhima refused to give money to Dhritarashtra out of malice, then Yudhishthira reprimanded him and got Dhritarashtra complete the Shradh ceremony by giving a lot of money. At the appointed time, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Vidur and Sanjay started the forest journey. Seeing all of them going to the forest, the mother of the Pandavas, Kunti also decided to reside in the forest. The Pandavas tried hard to pacify them, but Kunti also went to the forest with Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Dhritarashtra Adi spent the first night on the banks of the river Ganges. After staying there for a few days, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti, Vidur, and Sanjay came to Kurukshetra.
Here, after taking the initiation of exile from Maharishi Ved Vyas, all of them started living in Maharishi Shatyup’s ashram. While living in the forest, Dhritarashtra started doing severe penance. The flesh of his body dried up due to penance. Wearing a cot on his head like the great sages, he started doing even more severe penance. The fascination of his mind was removed by penance. Gandhari and Kunti also got engrossed in penance. Vidur and Sanjay were engaged in their service and used to do penance. In this way, about 1 year passed for Dhritarashtra, etc. while living in the forest.
Vidurji died
Here in Hastinapur, one day King Yudhishthira had the desire to see his relatives living in the forest. Then Yudhishthira called his army chiefs and told them to prepare to go to the forest. I will visit Maharaj Dhritarashtra, Mata Gandhari and Kunti, etc. living in the forest with my brothers and relatives. Thus the Pandavas started their journey to the forest with their entire family. Along with the Pandavas, there were also the townspeople who wanted to see Dhritarashtra, etc. Pandavas along with their army came to the place where Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti lived. When Yudhishthira saw them, he was very happy and he was also saddened to see his relatives in the guise of sages. Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti were also very happy to see their sons and relatives. When Yudhishthira did not see Vidurji there, he asked Dhritarashtra about him. Dhritarashtra told that he is doing severe penance. Then Yudhishthira saw Vidur coming in that direction, but seeing so many people in the ashram, Vidurji returned again.
Vedvyas revived the dead for one night
Yudhishthira ran back and forth to meet him. Then he saw Vidurji standing under a tree in the forest. At the same time, life came out of Vidurji’s body and got absorbed in Yudhishthir. When Yudhishthira saw that there was no life in Vidurji’s body, he decided to cremate him. That’s why it was heard in the sky that Vidurji used to follow the religion of renunciation. That’s why it is not appropriate to cremate them. Yudhishthira came and told this to King Dhritarashtra.
Everyone was surprised to hear this from Yudhishthira’s mouth. Yudhishthira etc. spent that night in the forest only. The next day Maharishi Vedvyas came to Dhritarashtra’s ashram. When he came to know that Vidurji left his body, he told that Vidur was the incarnation of Dharmaraj (Yamraj) and Yudhishthira is also a part of Dharmaraj. That’s why Vidurji’s life got absorbed in Yudhishthir’s body. Maharishi Vedvyas told Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti that today I will show you the effect of my penance, Ask for whatever you want.
The one magical night
Then Dhritarashtra and Gandhari expressed their desire to see their dead sons and Kunti to see Karna. Draupadi etc. said that they also want to see their relatives. Maharishi Vedvyas said that it will happen like this. All the heroes who died in the war, will all be able to see them tonight. By saying this, Maharishi Vedvyas asked everyone to walk on the banks of the Ganges. At the behest of Maharishi Vedvyas, everyone gathered on the banks of the Ganges and waited for nightfall. At nightfall, Maharishi Vedvyas entered the river Ganges and invoked all the dead warriors from the Pandava and Kaurava sides. Within no time Bhishma, Dronacharya, Karna, Duryodhana, Dushasan, Abhimanyu, all the sons of Dhritarashtra, Ghatotkacha, Draupadi’s five sons, King Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna, Shakuni, Shikhandi, etc. came out of the water.
There was no arrogance or anger in all of them. Maharishi Vedvyas provided divine eyes to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Everyone was filled with joy on seeing their dead relatives. Everyone felt satisfied after spending the whole night with their dead relatives. Meeting their dead sons, brothers, husbands and other relatives, everyone’s anger was dispelled. Then Maharishi Ved Vyas told the widows present there that all those who want to go with their husbands should take a dip in the river Ganga. At the behest of Maharishi Vedvyas, women who loved their husbands started taking a dip in the Ganges and left their bodies and went to their husbands. Thus ended that wonderful night.
Dhritasrashtra, Gandhari, Kunti died
In this way, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti and Pandavas were very happy after meeting their dead relatives. After staying in the forest for about 1 month, Yudhishthira etc. returned to Hastinapur again. About 2 years after this incident, one day Devarshi Narad came to Yudhishthir. Yudhishthira welcomed him. When Devarshi Narad told him that he had come to visit the holy places around the river Ganges, Yudhishthira asked him about Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Mother Kunti. Then Devarshi Narad told him that after your return from the forest, Dhritarashtra etc. went to Haridwar. There also he did severe penance. One day when he was coming to the ashram after bathing in the Ganges, a fierce fire broke out in the forest. Due to weakness, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti were unable to run away.
That’s why he thought of sacrificing his life in the same fire and sat there with concentration. Thus Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti sacrificed their lives. Sanjay told this to the ascetics and they themselves went to the Himalayas to do penance. When the news of the death of Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti spread in the palace, there was an outcry. Then Devarshi Narad gave him patience. Yudhishthira duly got everyone’s Shraddha performed and performed rituals for the peace of his soul by giving donations.