Title: The Ladder That Was Never Given
By Lokanath Mishra:
When the old woman exhaled her final breath, she expected darkness. Instead, she felt lighter—as if the weight of her years had gently slipped away. When she opened her eyes, a tall figure stood beside her, clothed not in fear but in calm authority. His presence was steady, like time itself.
“Are you Yamaraj?” she asked softly.
“I am the one who guides souls forward,” he replied. “Your journey is complete.”
The woman folded her trembling hands. “Then tell me—where will I go? Heaven or hell?”
“Neither,” he said with a faint smile. “Your life was woven with kindness, honesty, and quiet sacrifice. You are destined for the Lord’s abode Baikuntha “.
Her face lit up, but curiosity flickered behind her joy. “Before I go… may I ask for something?”
The guide nodded.
“All my life I heard people argue about heaven and hell—who goes where, and why. May I see both, just once? I wish to understand.”
The guide studied her for a moment and then said, “Understanding is a rare wish. Come.”
The Place of Waiting
They arrived at a vast land beneath a dim sky. The air was heavy with sighs and murmurs. People lay scattered across the ground, thin and weary, clutching their stomachs.
At the center stood a massive pot, towering high above everyone—filled to the brim with fragrant, steaming kheer. The aroma was irresistible.
The woman’s heart twisted. “Why is everyone starving when food is right here?”
A man looked up at her, his eyes dull. “The pot is too high. We cannot reach it.”
She noticed a huge spoon hanging above, ropes lying nearby, and trees standing strong around them.
“Why don’t you use the spoon? Or make something to climb?” she asked.
The man laughed bitterly. “Why should we? If the food is meant for us, it should come down on its own.”
Others nodded in agreement.
The woman realized something unsettling—they were not punished. They were waiting.
The Place of Action
They walked further and entered another land, radiant and alive. Laughter echoed like bells. Faces glowed with contentment.
At the center stood the same towering pot, the same hanging spoon, the same trees.
“But this is impossible,” the woman whispered. “The conditions are identical.”
A child ran past her, carrying a bowl of kheer. Nearby, people stood on a tall wooden ladder, passing bowls hand to hand.
A man explained, “We built the ladder together. Some cut the wood, some tied the knots, some held it steady.”
“What about those who can’t climb?” the woman asked.
“We feed them first,” he smiled.
The woman’s eyes filled with tears—not of sadness, but of clarity.
The Truth Revealed
She turned to her guide. “So heaven and hell…?”
He nodded. “Are not places I assign. They are states humans create.”
“God gives everyone the same world—resources, opportunities, choices. Some wait for miracles. Others become the miracle.”
He continued, “Hard work, unity, compassion—these are the ladders no one is given. They must be built.”
The woman folded her hands once more, this time in deep understanding.
As the light of the Lord’s abode surrounded her, she carried with her not just peace—but wisdom meant for the living.
🌹🙏
Message:
Heaven is built by effort and sharing.
Hell is created by laziness and expectation.
The ladder is never given—it must be made.
Mahabharata in prose ( A Story of Dvapar Yuga- Part-27E)
Mahabharata in Prose