Bhagavatha Vahini, Chapter 6 - Vidura's Renunciation

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Bhagavatha Vahini

The story of God and his DevoteesWritten by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai BabaDownload this Vahini

 

Chapter 6

Vidura's Renunciation

Inside the Palace, Vidura enquired about the welfare of every one of his

kinsmen. Then Kunthi Devi, the Queen-Mother, came in and casting her endearing

looks at him, said, "At last, we have been able to see you, 0 Vidura!" She

could not say more.

After some time she resumed, "How could you stay away so long, ignoring the very

children whom you reared with so much love and myself and others who revere you

so much. It is through your Grace that my children are today rulers of this

land. Where would they be today if you had not saved them on many a critical

occasion? We were the target for many a disaster; but, the greatest one was

your being away from us. That affected us most. Even the hope of seeing you

again was extinguished in us. Now, our hearts have sprouted again. Aspirations

scattered by despair have come together. Today, our joy has attained fullness.

0, what a happy day!" Kunthi sat for a while wiping her tears.

Vidura held her hands, but, could not resist his own tears. He was

recapitulating the varied events of the past, in the Pandava and Kaurava

groups. He said, "Mother Kunthi Devi! Who can overcome the decrees of fate?

What must happen, happens. The good and the evil that men do have to result in

good and evil. How can man be called free, when he is bound by this law of

cause and effect?

 

 

(See also Srimad Bhagavatam Chapter 6: The generating of the Universal Form)

He is a puppet in the hands of this law; it pulls the strings and he makes the

movements. Our likes and dislikes are of no consequence. Everything is His

Will, His Grace." When Vidura was thus expounding the fundamental spiritual

truths that govern human affairs, the brothers Dharmaraja, Bhima, Nakula, and

Sahadeva were sitting near, wrapped in close attention.

Kunthi raised her head at last and said, "Through your blessings, we won the

war; but, we were powerless to save the lives of the sons of Droupadi and the

son of Subhadra. Misfortune haunted us so strongly. Of course, as you said, no

one can escape one's destiny. Well, let the past be forgotten. It is

meaningless to worry over what cannot be set right. I must say, my thirst has

now been considerably relieved; I could meet you at last. Where were you all

this time? Tell us."

At this, Vidura replied that he had been on a pilgrimage to a number of holy

places. The brothers listened with rapt attention to his story, prodding him

with questions. Dharmaraja said often that he was awaiting the day when he too

could go through all those holy experiences. He folded his palms in reverence

whenever a holy shrine was mentioned and with closed eyes, he pictured to

himself the sacred spot. Meanwhile, Bhima interjected, "Did you proceed to

Dwaraka? Please tell us your experiences there." Dharmaraja too added, "You

must have met Lord Krishna there, isnt it? Tell us all what happened, in full

detail." Kunthi Devi too became eager to hear his description; for, she said,

"Tell us, tell us. My son is there now; you must have met him too. How are they

all? I hope the old parents, Nanda and Yasoda are well. And, Devaki and

Vasudeva?" A shower of questions fell on Vidura, even before he started

talking.

Vidura was not over-eager to answer. He talked as if he was anxious to avoid

being drawn into the topic. For he had learnt from Uddhava while on the way to

Dwaraka that the Yadava clan had perished and Krishna had closed His Human

career. He had no desire to plunge the Pandavas into grief, when they were

elated at meeting him after a long time. "Why should I who have given them so

much joy be myself the cause for wiping off that joy," he argued. "They are

sure to know about it, from Arjuna who will be returning from Dwaraka with the

sorrowful news." So, he swallowed the news that popped up quite often into his

mouth; he satisfied himself and them, by describing the glory of Krishna. He

said, "I did not like to visit kith and kin with these ascetic robes on: so, I

did not meet any of the Yadava leaders or Nanda, Yasoda and others", and kept

quiet. He did not dilate further on Dwaraka and his own pilgrimage.

"I came to you, because I heard that you have won the war and are peacefully

engaged at last in ruling over the kingdom which was rightfully yours; I felt

drawn towards these children whom I had fostered from a tender age. It was

affection towards them that drew me here. Among my kith and kin, I was tempted

to visit only you; I did not desire to meet any others", he said and turned

towards the Vedanthic teachings which he wanted to impart. When the

conversation ended, Dharmaraja prayed that Vidura might take residence at the

quarters specially arranged for him and himself accompanied him to the mansion.

There, he appointed certain persons to serve Vidura and requested him to take

rest at that place. Vidura did not relish the idea of spending his time in that

seat of luxury; but, he entered the mansion lest Dharmaraja be displeased. He

lay on his bed, reviewing the past; He sighed when he realised that the

stratagems which the blind Dhritharashtra, his own brother, employed to destroy

the Pandavas, the children of his other brother Pandu, recoiled on him and

caused the destruction of his own clan. He admired Dharmaraja for the

magnanimity he was showing towards Dhritharashtra, in spite of the fact that he

had tortured the Pandavas in various ways. Dharmaraja was revering him with

great faith and devotion and attending to his comforts. He felt the utmost

disgust when he recapitulated the wickedness of Dhritharashtra's heart; he was

ashamed that the old man was coolly wallowing in the luxury of the palace,

instead of cultivating detachment from the flimsy

pleasures of the senses and attempting to realise the goal of human life,

namely, Liberation, from the cycle of birth and death. He experienced an

uncontrollable agony that his brother was wasting the few remaining years of

life on earth.

His yogic vision told him that the Pandavas too will soon disappear; that the

same Krishna who guarded them here will look after their best interest in the

hereafter too. But, he surmised that the blind king will suffer more, after the

departure of the Pandavas. He resolved to send that unfortunate brother out into

pilgrimage and the ultimate realisation of his destiny. He did not want any

delay to intervene. So, he slipped out in the darkness, without being noticed

by any one, and walked straight into the residence of Dhritharashtra.

The blind king and his queen, Gandhari, were of course expecting Vidura to call

upon them, for they had learnt that he had come to town. So, when Vidura

stepped in, he embraced him and shed tears of joy. He could not contain

himself. He listed one by one the calamities that overtook him and his children

and lamented over fate. Vidura tried to console him with the profound teachings

of the scriptures. But, he soon discovered that the petrified heart of the old

man will not melt at the application of cold advice; he knew that his stupidity

can be overcome only by hard blows.

 

 

(See also Srimad Bhagavatam Chapter 1: Questions by Vidura)

So, he changed the tune and resorted to blame and abuse. Hearing this

Dhritharashtra was alarmed. He expostulated, "Brother! We are burning in agony

at the loss of our hundred sons; and, you prick the wound with the sharp

needles of your angry abuse. Even before we taste the joy of meeting you after

so long a time, why do you try to plunge us deeper into distress? Alas! Why

should I blame you for hard-heartedness? I am laughed at by all, blamed by all.

I have no right to find fault with you." With head bent and resting on his

palms, Dhritharashtra sat in silence.

Vidura recognised this as the opportune moment for instilling the lesson of

renunciation, which alone could save him from perdition. He knew that his

purpose was beyond reproach, for, he wanted them to undertake pilgrimage to

holy places and fill themselves with sanctity, and meet great and good men and

recognise the Lord within and thus save themselves. So, he decided to use even

stronger words with a view to transform him, and the queen. Though filled with

pity at their forlorn condition, Vidura had in mind the dire days when they

will need all the courage that Jnana alone can give them; so, he was determined

to wound them into action. He said, "0 foolish King! Have you no shame? Do you

still find joy in earthly pleasures? Of what avail is it if you wallow in the

mire until you die? I thought you had enough of it and more. Time is a cobra

that lies in wait to sting you to death. You dare hope that you can escape it

and live for ever. No one, however great, has

escaped the sting. You run after happiness in this temporary world and you seek

to fulfil your desires in order to get some paltry satisfaction. You are

wasting precious years. Make your life worthwhile. It is not yet too late to

begin the effort. Give up this cage called home. Dismiss from your mind the

paltry pleasures of this world. Remember the joy that awaits you, the world

that is welcoming you, the end of this journey. Save yourself. Avoid the

foolish fate of giving up this life in the agony of separation from kith and

kin. Learn to die with the thought of the Lord uppermost in the mind at the

moment of departure. It is far better to die in joy in the thick of the

blackest forest than die in distress in the palace of this capital city. Go, go

and do thapas. Get away from this place, this prison which you call, home."

Bhajan: Sung by Baba: Shivaya Parameshvaraya Candrashekharaya Namah Om

 

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