Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Spiritual Acclaim of Sri Vidura

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om ||

Hare Srinivasa

कल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।

श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥

Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed.

Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa!

My salutations to you.

भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।

त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥

Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. 

Lord! You are the only cause of our success.

व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।

हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥

Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.

यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।

संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥

This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.

दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।

शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥

The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. My salutations to you.

Vidura had returned from a pilgrimage. After a tiring journey, he took a bath, had food and was relaxing. At that time, King Yudhishthira holding him in high esteem and filled with humility addressed Vidura and asked questions to him with a voice audible to all assembled.

युधिष्ठिर उवाच

अपि स्मरथ नो युष्मत्पक्षच्छायासमेधितान् ।

विपद्गणाद्विषाग्न्यादेर्मोचिता यत्समातृकाः ॥ ८॥

King Yudhishthira, full of humility, said to Vidura, Uncle! Do you remember all of us? Those incidences wherein you protected us like the bird protecting its eggs and offspring from the predators? Also, like the birds covering its eggs with the feathers, share its warmth, and enable its offspring in the egg to grow. Do you remember sharing your warmth with us?

We have grown up in your shadow. You protected us when we were poisoned. Also, when we were housed in a wax house and lit the fire. At every attempt of Duryodhana to annihilate us, you have protected us, says King Yudhishthira expressing the most important Bhagavata dharma of having everlasting gratitude for all the help.     

कया वृत्त्या वर्तितं वश्चरद्भिः क्षितिमण्डलम् ।

तीर्थानि क्षेत्रमुख्यानि सेवितानीह भूतले ॥ ९॥

Continuing, King Yudhishthira asked Vidura, Uncle! You were on pilgrimage traveling from one place to another. How did you feel your life, then? Which were that important pilgrimage you undertook? Which were those divine places you traveled preceded by Lord himself in a significant way?

भवद्विधा भागवतास्तीर्थभूताः स्वयं विभो ।

तीर्थीकुर्वन्ति तीर्थानि स्वान्तःस्थेन गदाभृता ॥ १०॥

The Honorable one! You, yourself is a great devotee of the Lord with his presence in you as indweller in a significant way. The presence of the four-armed Lord holding the mace named Kaumodaki has made you divine, bestowed an ability to you to make the holy place holier, and bring greatness to those places of pilgrimage which you undertook.

Vidurashwatha is a holy place and about 85 KM from Bangalore dedicated to the name of Vidura. Here there is a Pupil tree planted by Vidura and is a famous place of worship.

अपि नः सुहृदस्तात बान्धवाः कृष्णदेवताः ।

दृष्टाः श्रुता वा यदवः स्वपुर्यां सुखमासते ॥ ११॥

Uncle! As you undertook pilgrimage, I’m sure you would have visited Dwarka too. There, I trust, our dear relatives, a friend, Lord Sri Krishna, the only one celebrated is fine!

Even if you have not visited Dwarka, I’m sure you have updated news on him. Please tell us. We are eager to hear that, says King Yudhishthira who had always remained focused on the Lord.  

इत्युक्तो धर्मराजेन सर्वं तत्समवर्णयत् ।

यथानुभूतं क्रमशो विना यदुकुलक्षयम् ॥ १२॥

नन्वप्रियं दुर्विषहं नृणां स्वयमुपस्थितम् ।

नावेदयत्सकरुणो दुःखितान् द्रष्टुमक्षमः ॥ १३॥

Sri Sutacharya continuing to narrate the episode on arrival of Vidura said to Sri Shaunaka that Vidura answered all the questions that were sought by King Yudhishthira. Sri Vidura answered as he had understood seeing, or hearing, or as he had experienced in a chronological and systematic way. But, he remained silent not saying anything about the destruction of the Yadu clan in the near future.

The compassionate Vidura did not give a clue on the destruction of the Yadu dynasty in the near future. He was worried that by sharing the inauspicious news, the peace and tranquillity of Pandavas could be destroyed. Vidura did not want to see Pandavas sad.

Hence, even the present Indian Astrology, practicing righteous path would not predict the death of any individual nor an unhappy incidence having no remedy.

कञ्चित्कालमथावात्सीत्सत्कृतो देववत्सुखम् ।

भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य श्रेयस्कृत्सर्वेषां प्रीतिमावहन् ॥ १४॥

The Pandavas took care of Vidura with all respect, state honor, and love. They admired their uncle Vidura’s knowledge and experience. Vidura stayed back in Hastinapura for while with an objective of bringing benefit to his elder brother, Dhritarashtra. Vidura wanted Dhritarashtra to course correct to the righteous path.

One could note an exemplary behavior in the character of Vidura. When everyone heard that Vidura would stay back in Hastinapura for some time, they jumped for joy.

अबिभ्रदर्यमा दण्डं यथावदघकारिषु ।

यावद्दधार शूद्रत्वं शापाद्वर्षशतं यमः ॥ १५॥

Vidura was by himself is Yama Dharmaraja. We have heard the story of Yama Dharmaraja being cursed by Manduka muni to be born for hundred years as Shudra in chaturvarna or the four varnas of Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, and Brahmana. Vidura is an incarnation of Yama Dharmaraja and was a dasiputra or the son to the maid of Ambika and Ambalika through Lord Veda Vyasa.

During those hundred years, Yama Dharmaraja’s activities as the King of Hell, passing judgment, and ordering punishments to the sinners were carried out by his father, God Sun.

In the Tattva Jnana or the Axiom of Knowledge, there are two types of जिव Jivas or beings. One is निरंश जिव or one who can only appear as one or in one body or form, and at an only place at a given point of time. However, the second types are सांश जिव or those who could appear in one form or different, in one or different bodies, and at different locations at the same point of time.

Yama Dharmaraja is a सांश जिव with the ability to appear in different forms, and at different locations at the same point of time. In one form, being the King of Hell, he runs the administration. Also, he has taken birth as Vidura and subsequently as Yudhishthira. Also, he is in various forms in all beings as a witness to each one's action.   

King Yudhishthira too was the form of Yama Dharmaraja appearing along with Vidura. Hence, in Mahabharata, Vidura concluded his form by merging with King Yudhishthira.

युधिष्ठिरो लब्धराज्यो दृष्ट्वा पौत्रं कुलन्धरम् ।

भ्रातृभिर्लोकपालाभैर्मुमुदे परया श्रिया ॥ १६॥

It was about fifteen years since King Yudhishthira had taken reins of the kingdom along with his brothers. He had recuperated and established righteousness in every walk of life. Parikshid was also about fifteen years old. Seeing him as the spiritual seeker growing under their guidance, the guidance of Kripacharya and building-up a personality filled with good character, Pandavas were overjoyed. They admired the offspring of their Pandu dynasty, their heir, and the inheritor of the Kuru Kingdom would live up to their family values. Pandavas were delighted to see the unfolding of predictions of the astrologers who had predicted about Parikshid at the time of his birth.

During the same time, after completion of all Yagna or Sacrifice for fifteen years, Lord Sri Krishna along with Uddava and Satyaki returned to Dwarka.

एवं गृहेषु सक्तानां प्रमत्तानां तदीहया ।

अत्यक्रामदविज्ञातः कालः परमदुस्तरः ॥ १७॥

Vidura observed all this. He saw each of the Pandavas implementing the righteous way in the kingdom supporting King Yudhishthira, the accumulation of wealth in the kingdom, and the happiness among the people. Also, the way, the Pandavas lead a happy life.

Vidura also observed that his elder brother, Dhritarashtra had got lost in the family life enjoying the worldly pleasures, overindulging in luxury, and the extraordinary treatment of Pandavas. However, the Time with aggression afflicted with inauspiciousness had a fast approach. Dhritarashtra had exhausted most of his lifespan and Vidura saw the time of death of his brother was fast approaching.

विदुरस्तदभिप्रेत्य धृतराष्ट्रमभाषत ।

राजन् निर्गम्यतां शीघ्रं पश्येदं भयमागतम् ॥ १८॥

Hence, Vidura after examining the acts of Time told his brother, Maharaja! The Time with aggression afflicted with inauspiciousness has approached. The Time causing death is hovering over our heads. Hence, we should leave this city immediately! 

प्रतिक्रिया न यस्येह कुतश्चित्कर्हिचित्प्रभो ।

स एव भगवान् कालः सर्वेषां नः समागतः ॥ १९॥

My Lord! Time is supreme and invincible. No being has the strength to dare and endure him. I too have to die and so do you. The earth on which we live has to die and also this whole vast universe. The best and the most superior being, God Brahma who has created the fourteen regions in this vast universe has to succumb to death brought by Time. At no moment in this immeasurable past history has one prevailed over death. Lord himself is Time, said Vidura to his brother Dhritarashtra. 

येन चैवाभिपन्नोऽयं प्राणैः प्रियतमैरपि ।

जनः सद्यो वियुज्येत किमुतान्यैर्धनादिभिः ॥ २०॥

The most intimate to a being is living in a body. However, when it comes to death, he becomes helpless and gives up his life. Then what could be told about wealth, relations, and other things?  Vidura questions as an affirmation to his brother Dhritarashtra. 

पितृभ्रातृसुहृत्पुत्रा हतास्ते विगतं वयः ।

आत्मा च जरया ग्रस्तः परगेहमुपाससे ॥ २१॥

Our grandfather, Bheshmacharya died! So also our father, Vichitravirya, Brother Pandu, Balika raja, his son Somadutta, our friends, so many of our near and dear have died. Also, your own hundred sons died in the war of Kurukshetra.  

Look at yourself, you have become जरया ग्रस्तः or old. But you are परगेहमुपाससे or staying in another's house. In fact, the house of those who killed your hundred children and won the whole kingdom. You are staying in the house against whom you had harbored enmity and hatred.  

अहो महीयसी जन्तोर्जीविताशा यथा भवान् ।

भीमापवर्जितं पिण्डमादत्ते गृहपालवत् ॥ २२॥

The animal greed to live life is shocking! Enjoyment of the worldly pleasure makes a person stoop down to any level. Just to have a good life, enjoy, eat, drink, and make merry, one would do anything! The pets of the house await the master to give food. Same way, you look forward daily to eat the food served by Bheemasena, says Vidura.

अग्निर्निसृष्टो दत्तश्च गरो दाराश्च दूषिताः ।

हृतं क्षेत्रं धनं येषां तद्दत्तैरसुभिः कियत् ॥ २३॥

Dhritarashtra! Remember during your rule, attempts were made to kill the Pandavas by burning down their house and poisoning them. Also, by pulling the robes of their wife Draupadi, you insulted them and grabbed their land and kingdom through illegal ways. Will a person with self-esteem have food in those very peoples' houses? Will that bring respect to you? Questioned Vidura.

तस्यापि तव देहोऽयं कृपणस्य जिजीविषोः ।

परैत्यनिच्छतो जीर्णो जरया वाससी इव ॥ २४॥

Yet, you want to live a life of fun and luxury. Your ignorance has exceeded that of the Himalayan Mountains. Which of the desire could satisfy you? Without wishing, like an old, faded, shabby worn dress, your body has become old.

गतस्वार्थमिमं देहं विरक्तो मुक्तबन्धनः ।

अविज्ञातगतिर्जह्यात्स वै धीर उदाहृतः ॥ २५॥

Now, with this body, you cannot accomplish any of your selfish desires. Hence, don’t be deceived by trying to nourish this old body. Give-up the attachment with the body.

A resolute one shall be dissociating with the worldly pleasure and mundane relationship without letting others know. And gives-up the body is a smart way.   

यः स्वकात्परतो वेह जातनिर्वेद आत्मवान् ।

हृदि कृत्वा हरिं गेहात्प्रव्रजेत्स नरोत्तमः ॥ २६॥

My Brother! You want to be called as नरोत्तमः or the best by the Vandimagada or the attendants of the royal family. Just by being praised one will not become great.

Those, with their own knowledge or by the guidance of others, understand that the cycle of death & birth, though appearing glamorous sometimes is filled with misery and sorrow. Therefore, being resolute, developing dispassion to worldly matters, get the conscious purified, and always try to focus on the form of Lord in the lotus of heart would renounce the house, or even the palace and the luxuries in it.  Also, giving-up family life is called grihastha ashrama to take-up sannyasa ashrama or become Ascetic. Such are classified as नरोत्तमः or the better types.

अथोदीचीं दिशं यातु स्वैरज्ञातगतिर्भवान् ।

इतोऽर्वाक् प्रायशः कालः पुंसां गुणविकर्षणः ॥ २७॥

Dhritarashtra! The time has come to leave the palace and take-up Vanaprastha. Remember the way our forefathers lived during their old age. King Bharata ruled the entire earth. But during his old age, he renounced the palace and took up Vanaprastha. Even our own elder brother, King Pandu, handed over the kingdom to you and went to the forest knowing his death had neared. However, worldly pleasures have made your mind too, blind.

My Brother! If you hang on, the time afflicted with aggression and inauspiciousness will conceive you. Lord Krishna and Pandavas would have left this earth. There will be no one to fight and control the afflicted time, says Vidura.

एवं राजा विदुरेणानुजेन प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्बोधित आजमीढः ।

छित्त्वा स्वेषु स्नेहपाशान् द्रढिम्नो निश्चक्राम भ्रातृसन्दर्शिताध्वा ॥ २८॥

Hearing his brother’s words, Dhritarashtra got awakened and came to his real senses. Giving up all worldly luxuries and becoming detached with the relationship, he took up the path suggested by his brother Vidura.

पतिं प्रयान्तं सुबलस्य पुत्री पतिव्रता चानुजगाम साध्वी ।

हिमालयं न्यस्तदण्डप्रहर्षं मनस्विनामिव सत्सम्प्रहारः ॥ २९॥

Like a soldier in a battle takes the blow of enemy with courage and the valor, overwhelms him with happiness, so too the devout wives of Dhritarashtra seeing their husband taken-up Sanyas Ashram and traveling towards Himalaya, Subala, Nandani, and Gandhari too followed their husband.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||