Satopant

Satopant

A place that is not even known by experienced pilgrims across India: the mystical path that the five Pandavas and their consort Draupadi travelled from the earthly plane to reach the eternal abode of Sri Krishna. This path that the Pandavas travelled was not just a pilgrimage for them. They were going to die and this was their tapasya, their last spiritual journey. It was a difficult yet blessed journey. According to the Mahabharata, Book 17, all the Pandavas died on this journey, one after the other, with Draupadi being the first to leave her body. Only Yudhishthira, together with his dog, who according to scriptures was the embodiment of Dharma Raja himself, reached the eternal destination of the journey – the sacred lake, Satopant Tal. This lake is where the path to the higher planets opens. Yudhishthira, having passed all the tests, was taken to Heaven with his physical body.

The legend continues, describing how the Satopanth (translated as ‘seven steps of truth’) is the lake in which the gods descend to take a bath. It has a triangular shape, approximately 1km long on each side. The crystal-clear waters of the lake are surrounded by four mighty Himalayan mountains: Nilkantha (one of the most mystical mountains in the district, considered to be the embodiment of Shiva), Satopanth, Swargarohini and Chaukhamba.

The journey from Badrinath to Satopanth Lake is 25km only, but the ascent is difficult and requires preparation and good health. Overnight stays and meals during the hike will be in tents.

 

“O thou of great intelligence, it is Time that cooks every creature (in his cauldron). I think that what has happened is due to the cords of Time (with which he binds us all). It behoveth thee also to see it. (…) Then Dharma’s son, Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, casting off his ornaments, wore barks of trees. Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, and Draupadi also of great fame, similarly clad themselves in bark of trees, O king. (…) Indeed, even thus did King Yudhishthira depart, himself the head of a party of seven, from the city named after the elephant. The citizen and the ladies of the royal household followed them for some distance. None of them, however, could venture to address the king for persuading him to give up his intention.”

Chapter I,
Verses: 3, 19-21, 24-26
Mahabharat
Book 17 “Mahaprasthanika Parva”

 

First, Draupadi left her body.

“As those mighty ones were proceeding quickly, all rapt in Yoga, Yajnaseni, falling of from Yoga, dropped down on the Earth. Beholding her fallen down, Bhimasena of great strength addressed King Yudhishthira the just, saying, “O, scorcher of foes, this princess never did any sinful act. Tell us what the cause is for which Krishna [Draupadi] has fallen down on the Earth!” Yudhishthira said: “O best of men, though we were all equal unto her she had great partiality for Dhananjaya [Arjuna]. She obtains the fruit of that conduct today, O best of men.””

Chapter II,
Verses: 3-7
Mahabharat
Book 17 “Mahaprasthanika Parva”

 

Then Sahadeva, Nakula and Arjuna passed away.

“Then Sahadeva of great learning fell down on the Earth. Beholding him drop down, Bhima addressed the king, saying, “He who with great humility used to serve us all, alas, why is that son of Madravati fallen down on the Earth?”

Yudhishthira said, “He never thought anybody his equal in wisdom. It is for that fault that this prince has fallen down.”

Vaishampayana continued: "Having said this, the king proceeded, leaving Sahadeva there. Indeed, Kunti’s son Yudhishthira went on, with his brothers and with the dog. Beholding both Krishna and the Pandava Sahadeva fallen down, the brave Nakula, whose love for kinsmen was very great, fell down himself.

Upon the falling down of the heroic Nakula of great personal beauty, Bhima once more addressed the king, saying, “This brother of ours who was endued with righteousness without incompleteness, and who always obeyed our behests, this Nakula who was unrivalled for beauty, has fallen down.”

Thus addressed by Bhimasena, Yudhishthira, said, with respect to Nakula, these words: “He was of righteous soul and the foremost of all persons endued with intelligence. He, however, thought that there was nobody that equaled him in beauty of person. Indeed, he regarded himself as superior to all in that respect. It is for this that Nakula has fallen down. Know this, O, Vrikodara. What has been ordained for a person, O, hero, must have to be endured by him.”

Chapter II,
Verses: 8-17
Mahabharat
Book 17 “Mahaprasthanika Parva”

 

In the Chakratirtha, the place where Sri Krishna hid his Sudarshana-chakra underground, Arjuna, a great yogi and devotee of the Lord, gave his body. It is still here that the great yogis of the Himalayas enter samadhi.

In the Mahabharata, Book 17, Chapter 2, Verse 40, it is said: “The treasure disk that Krishna, the great spirit, had disappeared, but after a while it will return to Him again.”

 

“Beholding Nakula and the others fall down, Pandu’s son Arjuna of white steeds, that slayer of hostile heroes, fell down in great grief of heart. When that foremost of men, who was endued with the energy of Shakra, had fallen down, indeed, when that invincible hero was on the point of death, Bhima said unto the king, “I do not recollect any untruth uttered by this high-souled one. Indeed, not even in jest did he say anything false. What then is that for whose evil consequence this one has fallen down on the Earth?”

Yudhishthira said, “Arjuna had said that he would consume all our foes in a single day. Proud of his heroism, he did not, however, accomplish what he had said. Hence has he fallen down. This Phalguna disregarded all wielders of bows. One desirous of prosperity should never indulge in such sentiments.“”

Chapter II,
Verses: 18-22
Mahabharat
Book 17 “Mahaprasthanika Parva”

 

The fourth who left the body was the mighty Bhima. There is a stone pillar in Bhimbhar in memory of Bhima's liberation from earthly life.

“Vaishampayana continued: “Having said so, the king proceeded on. Then Bhima fell down. Having fallen down, Bhima addressed King Yudhishthira the just, saying, “O king, behold, I who am thy darling have fallen down. For what reason have I dropped down? Tell me if thou knowest it.”

Yudhishthira said, “Thou wert a great eater, and thou didst use to boast of thy strength. Thou never didst attend, O Bhima, to the wants of others while eating. It is for that, O Bhima, that thou hast fallen down.”

Having said these words, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira proceeded on, without looking back. He had only one companion, the dog of which I have repeatedly spoken to thee, that followed him now.”

Chapter II,
Verses: 23-26
Mahabharat
Book 17 “Mahaprasthanika Parva”

 

Satopant Tal is a high mountain sacred lake. It was here that the last of the Pandavas left the Earth.

“Vaishampayana said: “Then Shakra, causing the firmament and the Earth to be filled by a loud sound, came to the son of Pritha on a car and asked him to ascend it. Beholding his brothers fallen on the Earth, King Yudhishthira the just said unto that deity of a 1000 eyes these words: “My brothers have all dropped down here. They must go with me. Without them by me I do not wish to go to Heaven, O lord of all the deities. The delicate princess [Draupadi] deserving of every comfort, O Purandara, should go with us. It behoveth thee to permit this.”

Shakra said, “Thou shalt behold thy brothers in Heaven. They have reached it before thee. Indeed, thou shalt see all of them there, with Krishna. Do not yield to grief, O chief of the Bharatas. Having cast off their human bodies they have gone there, O chief of Bharata’s race. As regards thee, it is ordained that thou shalt go thither in this very body of thine.”

Yudhishthira said, “This dog, O lord of the Past and the Present, is exceedingly devoted to me. He should go with me. My heart is full of compassion for him.“

Shakra said, ‘Immortality and a condition equal to mine, O king, prosperity extending in all directions, and high success, and all the felicities of Heaven, thou hast won today. Do thou cast off this dog. In this there will be no cruelty.”

Yudhishthira said, “O thou of a 1000 eyes. O thou that art of righteous behaviour, it is exceedingly difficult for one that is of righteous behaviour to perpetrate an act that is unrighteous. I do not desire that union with prosperity for which I shall have to cast o one that is devoted to me.“ […]

Vaishampayana continued: ”Hearing these words of King Yudhishthira the just, [the dog became trans formed into] the deity of Righteousness, who, well pleased, said these words unto him in a sweet voice fraught with praise.”

Dharma said: […] “Formerly, O son, thou wert once examined by me in the woods of Dwaita, […] On the present occasion, thinking the dog to be devoted to thee, thou hast renounced the very car of the celestials instead of renouncing him. O king, there is no one in Heaven that is equal to thee. Hence, O Bharata, regions of inexhaustible felicity are thine. Thou hast won them, O chief of the Bharatas, and thine is a celestial and high goal.””

 Chapter III,
Verses: 1-5, 7-9, 17, 19, 21-22
Mahabharat
Book 17 “Mahaprasthanika Parva”

 

Satopanth Tal is a high-altitude lake located at an altitude of 4402m. It is located 25km from Badrinath. The lake itself has a triangular shape. According to legend Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are in each of the corners of the lake. It was here that the last of the Pandavas left the Earth.