Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 2136
Svargārohaṇa-parva Adhyāya 5 — Karmaphala-Nirdeśa and Phalāśruti (कर्मफलनिर्देशः फलश्रुतिश्च)
ऋद्धिमन्तो महात्मान: शस्त्रपूता दिव॑ गता: । धृतराष्ट्रके सभी पुत्र स्वर्गभोगके पश्चात् मूलतः बलोन्मत्त यातुधान (राक्षस) थे। वे समृद्धिशाली महामनस्वी क्षत्रिय होकर युद्धमें शस्त्रोंके आघातसे पवित्र हो स्वर्गलोकमें गये थे
ṛddhimanto mahātmānaḥ śastrapūtā divaṃ gatāḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭrake sabhī putra svargabhogake paścāt mūlataḥ balonmatta yātudhāna (rākṣasa) the | ve samṛddhiśālī mahāmanasvī kṣatriya hokar yuddhameṃ śastroṃke āghātse pavitra ho svargalokameṃ gaye the |
毗舍波耶那说道：“他们具足富饶与大心，被兵刃所净化，而升入天界。持国王（Dhṛtarāṣṭra）的一切儿子——在享尽天界果报之后——其本性原是凶暴、恃力而醉的夜叉陀那（yātudhāna，罗刹）之类。然而他们以富有而高怀的刹帝利之身，在战场上受兵刃击打而得涤净，遂得至天界。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a key epic tension: inner disposition (violent, rākṣasa-like) can be morally blameworthy, yet the cosmic accounting of a kṣatriya’s end may still grant heaven when one meets death in battle according to one’s station. It underscores that outcomes in the Mahābhārata often reflect both character and role-based dharma, producing ethically complex results.
Vaiśampāyana explains the post-war fate of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons: they attained heaven, being described as ‘purified by weapons’ through their death in battle. At the same time, he notes that after their heavenly enjoyment, their underlying nature is characterized as yātudhāna (rākṣasa-like), emphasizing their innate ferocity despite their temporary heavenly reward.