Vyasa and Krishna talk to Yudhistira

Krishna tried speaking to Yudhistira but he would not listen. Krishna then said - Listen to me patiently. Go to Hastinapura and take the throne that you have earned. Rule over the subjects. You should not forget the pains that you have gone through. Your days in the forest, Draupadi's insult,
Yudhistira said I know what you are saying but I do not want to go. You take Bhima and Arjuna with you and go to Hastinapura.
Krishna said - Do not go against my words again and again. This does not suit you. If you become king, people will know about me. I will get benefited.
Yudhistira agreed. Bhima was happy that Yudhistira would become king. Sons Madri and Arjuna were also thrilled.
Dhritarashtra then started crying out for his sons, saying the Pandavas had taken all, leaving him alone. Hearing this Yudhistira fainted. Krishna and the other brothers wondered what had happened. They helped him up.
Coming to his senses, Yudhistira said I am able to bear the cries of Dhritarashtra. There is no point in getting the kingdom.I have been the cause of the death of Bhishma who held my hand when I was growing up.
Vyasa then came there said - Discard your grief. Where there is a union, there will be a discord. No one is immortal. Why do you grieve for that? The body is bound to get destroyed. By illness or by death. One dies because of their actions and not because of someone else. Some die as infants, some in their middle age and some in their old age. Some die of old age, some of illness and some due to weapons. Some are bitten by snakes and die, and some get attacked by wild beasts and meet their end. The rich king and the poor beggar, both meet their end when their time comes. You are a learned person and I should not be explaining this to you. One who stays in the right path has a peaceful end. Like the change of seasons, there will be changes in life. Grief will come and so will Joy.
No will be immortal. If so, where are the great kings like Pandu, Madhata ,Dilipa and Harishchandra. If two sticks are together, friction will be there. That does not mean that you will not keep the sticks. Your mother, your wives, your brothers - all will die. Get rid of the grief. You will go back where you came from. The body will get destroyed. This is a cycle of life and death and all are prisoner in it.

Yudhistira kept quiet.

Arjuna said to Krishna - Will all get destroyed because Yudhistira is sad? We stooped low and did things that we had never done, in the kingdom of Virata. You please talk to Yudhistira. Create an illusion for him, so that he understand. Only You can do that.

Krishna went and sat near Yudhistira. Holding his hands, he said - Discard your grief. You will not get anything out of this. One who grieves constantly looses prosperity. Vyasa has said so many things to you. Why do you not respond. Do not fear that you have sinned by killing your dear ones. Go to Bhishma. Talk to him. he will tell you what to do. Respect Vyasa and go what he says. Your subjects are looking forward to you.

Hearing all this, Yudhistira agreed to go to Hastinapura. A chariot was brought. Bhima became the charioteer. Krishna and Arjuna climbed up along with Yudhistira. The sons of Madri followed. Dhritarashtra followed. Yuyutsu and Sanjaya followed in a chariot.

Gandhari reluctantly followed.

Hearing that Yudhistira is coming, the people of Hastinapura rushed to greet him.

Seeing an auspicious moment, Yudhistira stepped into the city. Gandhari asked the sages to look for a date when Yudhistira could be crowned.

Finally Hastinapura was with Yudhistira.

Yudhistira does not want the throne

Janmajeya said - O sage You have said about the grief of all. Now please tell me about Yudhistira's coming to Hastinapura.
Vaishampayana said - Listen, while I tell you the story of Mahabharata.
Yudhistira was grief stricken. Krishna went to him and said The throne at Hastinapura lies vacant. Please go there and occupy the throne. The people are waiting for you, like the people of Ayodhya waited for Rama to come back from the forests.
Yudhistira said I do not want to go there. I want to stay here in this ground, till I die. I am not able to stand the cries of the women. I have killed my dear ones.

Last rites performed

At the words of Krishna, Dhritarashtra called Yudhistira and said - Many people have fallen in the battle. You need to arrange for their last rites. Yuyutsu, Dhaumya, Sanjaya and Vidura will be with you.
Arrangements were made and the pyres were lit. The Pandavas then went to towards the river to immerse the ashes. Kunti then came there. She said Karna, whom you have known as a charioteer's son is my son, born to me before I married Pandu. He was born off the sun and I put him in a basket and floated him away in the river.
Hearing all from Kunti, Yudhistira broke down. He said You have told me know that Karna was my brother, I have plotted to kill my brother. If you had told me earlier, I would not have killed Karna or Duryodhana. Karna would have become the king of Hastinapura and Duryodhana would have happy also. I have killed my elder brother. I am angry and said. I curse you O mother. From today, women will not be able to keep secrets.
Saying this, the last rites were concluded. Krishna consoled Yudhistira and the Pandavas.
All were crying for their departed dead.
For three days and nights no one ate anything. After three days, fruits were got for all.
Krishna went about consoling all.

Gandhari curses Krishna

Gandhari continued - Fire comes in my mouth when I think of how unfair you have been. Listen Krishna. I will curse you and then my grief will be lessened. The way my daughters in law, the same way your daughters in law will cry. You created a divide among the Pandavas and the Kauravas and similarly your clan will get divided.

Yudhistira started shaking hearing this. Krishna knew this was to happen. He went to Gandhari and said I accept your curse. If this pleases you and makes you calm, I accept this. 

Gandhari addresses Krishna

Janmajeya said - Please tell me what Gandhari said. How did she control her grief? What did she say to Krishna? Why did she curse Krishna?
The sage said -
Listening to Krishna, the queen sat up. Then Gandhari said to Krishna - See Krishna, my hundred sons lie dead, slain by Bhima. You can hear their wives crying. The women who had never stepped out of the house, are out in the open, in the field. All sons are the same to a mother, wether they are good or bad. I am not able to stand this. If I could show you the weight I have in my heart, I would have shown it to you. Off all the griefs one has, the loss of a child is the gravest. Only one who has carried a child in her womb and feel this. How will you console me Krishna? Duryodhana, who was worshipped by his subjects in now being eaten by jackals. When he asked me who will win, I said where there is justice, where ever there is Krishna, Victory will be there. I know Duryodhana did not listen to any advise and thus met his end. Shakuni, my brother, through his cunning mind brought about this. The Pandavas will rule here after and no one is left to rule after that.
Krishna and the Pandavas were quite.
Draupadi was crying for her sons. Uttara, holding Abhimanyu's body was crying.
Gandhari was crying away, calling out to Duryodhana. She then turned to Krishna and said - O son of Devaki. You are the cause of all this destruction. You could have stopped this war. If you had not stepped in and become the charioteer, things would have been opposite. You knew Abhimanyu would step into the formation as he knew how to get in and did not know how to get out. You used Ghatotkacha to save Arjuna from the powerful weapon of Karna.

Gandhari goes to the battlefield

It was a horrible sight at the battlefield. Vultures were flying everywhere. Jackals and Dogs were tearing at the flesh of the dead.
People looked around for the bodies of their departed ones. Some recognized the body parts, some saw the bodies and some could find the bodies at all.
There were dead animals and chariots and many jewels were scattered there.
After some time, Gandhari was able to spot Duryodhana. She swooned seeing her dead son. People thought she had died. Krishna, Satyaki and the Pandavas raised her and revived her.
Seeing Krishna, Gandhari said See, there is Duryodhana. Where is Karna? Why is not here with him? Where is Shakuni? Where are Bhishma and Drona? He who had never lain on a hard bed, why does he lie on the bare ground? Get up son. Bhima and Arjuna are calling for a fight.
Krishna said Do no grieve. Your sons have what they deserved. Go with the Pandavas now. 

Kunti sees her sons

Gandhari then asked the Pandavas to greet their mother, Kunti. Kunti was overjoyed to see her sons, Krishna and Satyaki. She hugged her sons, her eyes full of tears.
Krishna said Why are your eyes wet? Yudhistira will now become the king.

Draupadi came and bowed down to all.

Gandhari then decided to go into the field to see the dead bodies of her sons. All the ladies, Krishna and the Pandavas went behind her.

Dhritarashtra hugs Iron Bhima

Sanjaya held the blind king and made him sit. The five Pandavas, Krishna and Satyaki sat in front of the king. This was all that was left of the Pandava camp.
Dhritarashtra said I want to see Bhima and hug him. He has been responsible for the death of all my sons. Come to me.
Saying this, he stretched his hands out.
Krishna knew this would happen and had already created an iron statue of Bhima. He brought that in front of Dhritarashtra. The king pressed the statue hard. The king was very strong and the statue crushed with his embrace. The king was happy. He had killed Bhima. He then had tears in his eyes.
Krishna then said Bhima is alive. I knew you would get enraged and this is the reason I had arranged for an iron statue of Bhima to be made. You will not get back Duryodhana by killing Bhima. You yourself said earlier that sons of Pandu are your sons. You yourself knew that this would happen. Your sons tried to kill the Pandavas on many occasions. Why do you want to be a sinner by killing Bhima?
Dhritarashtra said You have saved Bhima.
Saying this he stretched his hands and hugged and blessed the Pandavas.

The Pandavas then with Krishna where Gandhari was. Krishna knew that Gandhari would curse them. He said You yourself had told Duryodhana that the victory will be where there is justice. Your words have come true and justice has prevailed. Throw away your anger and accept the sons of Pandu as your own.

Gandhari said As your say Krishna, I will accept the Pandavas as my own but where do I throw my hurt? My hundred sons are dead.

Dhritarashtra goes to Kurukshetra

Vyasa said - Do not grieve for the departed. Let me tell you something. Once I was in the land of Brahma. There the earth came and said she wanted some relief. Vishnu said the demons that he had killed had been born as Kshatriyas. Brahma said Duryodhana will be born and will torment many.
Hearing this, the earth said how will be relieved.Brahma said Gods will born as sons of Pandu. Duryodhana will be born as son of Dhritarashtra. Vishnu as Krishna will be there to help the sons of Pandu when turmoil will start with who will gain the kingdom. Do not worry O Earth. You will be relieved off Duryodhana. This Duryodhana is your son. He had Karna as his friend and Shakuni as his adviser. Thus I tell you, do not grieve.

Sanjaya said Kings from many lands have come to pay their condolences.

Dhritarashtra asked Vidura to fetch the women. Vidura said Dhritarashtra is going to the battlefield where all your sons lie dead.

Hearing this, wails broke out. Vidura said Please control yourselves. The king wants you to come to the battlefield.
The women climbed on the chariots and left for the ground. They were crying away, cursing their fate and crying to their departed ones.

At that point, Ashwatthama, Kripacharya and Kritavarma came and met Dhritarashtra. They told him that all his sons were dead and Bhima had killed all of them. To take revenge they had killed the brothers and sons of Draupadi.

Hearing that Dhritarashtra was coming, the Pandavas decided to greet him. Yudhistira asked Krishna how should he face the King and Gandhari?
Krishna said Do not fear. I am the One who controls Life and Death. Do not fear for your life. I know Gandhari will not curse you. Please go and greet her and the king.

The five brothers and Krishna then went to meet the King. 

Dhritarashtra grieves for his sons

It was early morning when Sanjaya told Dhritarashtra about the death of Dhritarashtra. It was as if sky fell on him. He could not believe his ears. He was wondering why he was alive with all his sons dead. Taking the names of his sons, the blind king fell down. He cried out taking the names of Bhishma, Karna and Drona. He called out to Shakuni blaming him for all this. He said he was feeling like a bird whose wings had been cut. He said I had been told by all to control my sons else this would happen. I did not listen to anyone and see what has happened now. Sanjaya, it must be because of sins that I have committed that this happened to me. How will I tell people that the Bhishma who could not be defeated by Parashurama, and felled by Arjuna. This Arjuna defeated Drona and killed Karna.
Take me to the battlefield. I will go and kill the Pandavas. I will cut off Arjuna's head and then ask Yudhistira to rule.

Hearing this, Sanjaya said - You should be saying this. You are a learned person and these words do not do justice to you. You knew what would happen. Also remember, one who is born has to die. Your son was also advised many times but he too did not listen to anyone. He just listened to Dushshasana and Shakuni and Karna. He made fun of the elders. Pandavas asked for some villages and Krishna came and tried to mediate but that did not help. You yourself tried to talk to him. Did he listen? Get from the ground. Throw the fire of anger out before it burns you.

Vidura also came and consoled the king. He said Get up O king. Do not grieve. Death is the ultimate reality. Be aware that all have gone to heaven, having fallen in Kurukshetra.

Vyasa also came there and tried to talk to Dhritarashta and console him. 

Janmajeya asks a question

Janmajeya asked - You have told me about the great war where in the end only three warriors were left off the Kauravas.
Dhritarashtra hearing his sons were dead, how did he react? A son like Duryodhana was dead. How did his parents behave? How were the last rites of the departed performed?

Do tell, O sage.

The sage said Listen to me while I tell you all that happened.