Sahadeva was next to fall, and then Nakula. At length Yudhishthira heard the voice of Bhima crying in distress: “Lo! now the noble Arjuna hath fallen. What sin hath he committed?”
Said Yudhishthira: “He boasted confidently that he could destroy all his enemies in one day, and because he failed in his vow he hath fallen by the way.”
The two surviving brothers walked on in silence; but the time came when mighty Bhima sank down. He cried: “O Yudhishthira say, if thou canst tell, why I have fallen now.”
Said Yudhishthira: “O wolf-bellied one, because of thy cursing and gluttony and thy pride thou hast fallen by the way.”
Yudhishthira walked on, calm and unmoved, followed by his faithful hound. When he drew nigh to sacred Mount Meru, the world-spine, Indra, king of the gods, came forth to welcome him, saying: “Ascend, O resolute prince.”
Said Yudhishthira: “Let my brethren who have fallen by the way come with me also. I cannot enter heaven without them, O king of the gods. Let the fair and gentle princess come too; Draupadi hath been a faithful wife, and is worthy of bliss. Hear my prayer, O Indra, and have mercy.”
Said Indra: “Thy brethren and Draupadi have gone before thee.”
Then Yudhishthira pleaded that his faithful hound should enter heaven also; but Indra said: “Heaven is no place for those who are followed by hounds. Knowest thou not that demons rob religious ordinances of their virtues when dogs are nigh?”
Said Yudhishthira: “No evil can come from the noble. I cannot have joy if I desert this faithful friend.”
Indra said: “Thou didst leave behind thy brethren and Draupadi. Why, therefore, canst thou not abandon thine hound?”