Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 1 · Chapter 13
सूत उवाच विदुरस्तीर्थयात्रायां मैत्रेयादात्मनो गतिम् । ज्ञात्वागाद्धास्तिनपुरं तयावाप्तविवित्सित: ॥ १ ॥
suta uvaca viduras tirtha-yatrayam maitreyad atmano gatim jnatvagad dhastinapuram tayavapta-vivitsitah
Sri Suta Gosvami said: While traveling on a pilgrimage, Vidura received knowledge of the destination of the self from the great sage Maitreya and then returned to Hastinapura. He became as well versed in the subject as he desired.
यावत: कृतवान् प्रश्नान् क्षत्ता कौषारवाग्रत: । जातैकभक्तिर्गोविन्दे तेभ्यश्चोपरराम ह ॥ २ ॥
yavatah krtavan prasnan ksatta kausaravagratah jataika-bhaktir govinde tebhyas copararama ha
After asking various questions and becoming established in the transcendental loving service of Lord Krsna, Vidura retired from putting questions to Maitreya Muni.
तं बन्धुमागतं दृष्ट्वा धर्मपुत्र: सहानुज: । धृतराष्ट्रो युयुत्सुश्च सूत: शारद्वत: पृथा ॥ ३ ॥ गान्धारी द्रौपदी ब्रह्मन् सुभद्रा चोत्तरा कृपी । अन्याश्च जामय: पाण्डोर्ज्ञातय: ससुता: स्त्रिय: ॥ ४ ॥
tam bandhum agatam drstva dharma-putrah sahanujah dhrtarastro yuyutsus ca sutah saradvatah prtha gandhari draupadi brahman subhadra cottara krpi anyas ca jamayah pandor jnatayah sasutah striyah
When they saw Vidura return to the palace, all the inhabitants — Maharaja Yudhisthira, his younger brothers, Dhrtarastra, Satyaki, Sanjaya, Krpacarya, Kunti, Gandhari, Draupadi, Subhadra, Uttara, Krpi, many other wives of the Kauravas, and other ladies with children — all hurried to him in great delight. It so appeared that they had regained their consciousness after a long period.
प्रत्युज्जग्मु: प्रहर्षेण प्राणं तन्व इवागतम् । अभिसङ्गम्य विधिवत् परिष्वङ्गाभिवादनै: ॥ ५ ॥
pratyujjagmuh praharsena pranam tanva ivagatam abhisangamya vidhivat parisvangabhivadanaih
With great delight they all approached him, as if life had returned to their bodies. They exchanged obeisances and welcomed each other with embraces.
मुमुचु: प्रेमबाष्पौघं विरहौत्कण्ठ्यकातरा: । राजा तमर्हयाञ्चक्रे कृतासनपरिग्रहम् ॥ ६ ॥
mumucuh prema-baspaugham virahautkanthya-katarah raja tam arhayam cakre krtasana-parigraham
Due to anxieties and long separation, they all cried out of affection. King Yudhisthira then arranged to offer sitting accommodations and a reception.
तं भुक्तवन्तं विश्रान्तमासीनं सुखमासने । प्रश्रयावनतो राजा प्राह तेषां च शृण्वताम् ॥ ७ ॥
tam bhuktavantam visrantam asinam sukham asane prasrayavanato raja praha tesam ca srnvatam
After Vidura ate sumptuously and took sufficient rest, he was comfortably seated. Then the King began to speak to him, and all who were present there listened.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच अपि स्मरथ नो युष्मत्पक्षच्छायासमेधितान् । विपद्गणाद्विषाग्न्यादेर्मोचिता यत्समातृका: ॥ ८ ॥
yudhisthira uvaca api smaratha no yusmat- paksa-cchaya-samedhitan vipad-ganad visagnyader mocita yat samatrkah
Maharaja Yudhisthira said: My uncle, do you remember how you always protected us, along with our mother, from all sorts of calamities? Your partiality, like the wings of a bird, saved us from poisoning and arson.
कया वृत्त्या वर्तितं वश्चरद्भि: क्षितिमण्डलम् । तीर्थानि क्षेत्रमुख्यानि सेवितानीह भूतले ॥ ९ ॥
kaya vrttya vartitam vas caradbhih ksiti-mandalam tirthani ksetra-mukhyani sevitaniha bhutale
While traveling on the surface of the earth, how did you maintain your livelihood? At which holy places and pilgrimage sites did you render service?
भवद्विधा भागवतास्तीर्थभूता: स्वयं विभो । तीर्थीकुर्वन्ति तीर्थानि स्वान्त:स्थेन गदाभृता ॥ १० ॥
bhavad-vidha bhagavatas tirtha-bhutah svayam vibho tirthi-kurvanti tirthani svantah-sthena gadabhrta
My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.
अपि न: सुहृदस्तात बान्धवा: कृष्णदेवता: । दृष्टा: श्रुता वा यदव: स्वपुर्यां सुखमासते ॥ ११ ॥
api nah suhrdas tata bandhavah krsna-devatah drstah sruta va yadavah sva-puryam sukham asate
My uncle, you must have visited Dvaraka. In that holy place are our friends and well-wishers, the descendants of Yadu, who are always rapt in the service of the Lord Sri Krsna. You might have seen them or heard about them. Are they all living happily in their abodes?
इत्युक्तो धर्मराजेन सर्वं तत् समवर्णयत् । यथानुभूतं क्रमशो विना यदुकुलक्षयम् ॥ १२ ॥
ity ukto dharma-rajena sarvam tat samavarnayat yathanubhutam kramaso vina yadu-kula-ksayam
Thus being questioned by Maharaja Yudhisthira, Mahatma Vidura gradually described everything he had personally experienced, except news of the annihilation of the Yadu dynasty.
नन्वप्रियं दुर्विषहं नृणां स्वयमुपस्थितम् । नावेदयत् सकरुणो दु:खितान् द्रष्टुमक्षम: ॥ १३ ॥
nanv apriyam durvisaham nrnam svayam upasthitam navedayat sakaruno duhkhitan drastum aksamah
Compassionate Mahatma Vidura could not stand to see the Pandavas distressed at any time. Therefore he did not disclose this unpalatable and unbearable incident because calamities come of their own accord.
कञ्चित्कालमथावात्सीत्सत्कृतो देववत्सुखम् । भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य श्रेयस्कृत्सर्वेषां सुखमावहन् ॥ १४ ॥
kancit kalam athavatsit sat-krto devavat sukham bhratur jyesthasya sreyas-krt sarvesam sukham avahan
Thus Mahatma Vidura, being treated just like a godly person by his kinsmen, remained there for a certain period just to rectify the mentality of his eldest brother and in this way bring happiness to all the others.
अबिभ्रदर्यमा दण्डं यथावदघकारिषु । यावद्दधार शूद्रत्वं शापाद्वर्षशतं यम: ॥ १५ ॥
abibhrad aryama dandam yathavad agha-karisu yavad dadhara sudratvam sapad varsa-satam yamah
As long as Vidura played the part of a sudra, being cursed by Manduka Muni, Aryama officiated at the post of Yamaraja to punish those who committed sinful acts.
युधिष्ठिरो लब्धराज्यो दृष्ट्वा पौत्रं कुलन्धरम् । भ्रातृभिर्लोकपालाभैर्मुमुदे परया श्रिया ॥ १६ ॥
yudhisthiro labdha-rajyo drstva pautram kulan-dharam bhratrbhir loka-palabhair mumude paraya sriya
Having won his kingdom and observed the birth of one grandson competent to continue the noble tradition of his family, Maharaja Yudhisthira reigned peacefully and enjoyed uncommon opulence in cooperation with his younger brothers, who were all expert administrators to the common people.
एवं गृहेषु सक्तानां प्रमत्तानां तदीहया । अत्यक्रामदविज्ञात: काल: परमदुस्तर: ॥ १७ ॥
evam grhesu saktanam pramattanam tad-ihaya atyakramad avijnatah kalah parama-dustarah
Insurmountable, eternal time imperceptibly overcomes those who are too much attached to family affairs and are always engrossed in their thought.
विदुरस्तदभिप्रेत्य धृतराष्ट्रमभाषत । राजन्निर्गम्यतां शीघ्रं पश्येदं भयमागतम् ॥ १८ ॥
viduras tad abhipretya dhrtarastram abhasata rajan nirgamyatam sighram pasyedam bhayam agatam
Mahatma Vidura knew all this, and therefore he addressed Dhrtarastra, saying: My dear King, please get out of here immediately. Do not delay. Just see how fear has overtaken you.
प्रतिक्रिया न यस्येह कुतश्चित्कर्हिचित्प्रभो । स एष भगवान् काल: सर्वेषां न: समागत: ॥ १९ ॥
pratikriya na yasyeha kutascit karhicit prabho sa esa bhagavan kalah sarvesam nah samagatah
This frightful situation cannot be remedied by any person in this material world. My lord, it is the Supreme Personality of Godhead as eternal time (kala) that has approached us all.
येन चैवाभिपन्नोऽयं प्राणै: प्रियतमैरपि । जन: सद्यो वियुज्येत किमुतान्यैर्धनादिभि: ॥ २० ॥
yena caivabhipanno ’yam pranaih priyatamair api janah sadyo viyujyeta kim utanyair dhanadibhih
Whoever is under the influence of supreme kala (eternal time) must surrender his most dear life, and what to speak of other things, such as wealth, honor, children, land and home.
पितृभ्रातृसुहृत्पुत्रा हतास्ते विगतं वयम् । आत्मा च जरया ग्रस्त: परगेहमुपाससे ॥ २१ ॥
pitr-bhratr-suhrt-putra hatas te vigatam vayam atma ca jaraya grastah para-geham upasase
Your father, brother, well-wishers and sons are all dead and passed away. You yourself have expended the major portion of your life, your body is now overtaken by invalidity, and you are living in the home of another.
अन्ध: पुरैव वधिरो मन्दप्रज्ञाश्च साम्प्रतम् । विशीर्णदन्तो मन्दाग्नि: सराग: कफमुद्वहन् ॥ २२ ॥
andhah puraiva vadhiro manda-prajnas ca sampratam visirna-danto mandagnih saragah kapham udvahan
You have been blind from your very birth, and recently you have become hard of hearing. Your memory is shortened, and your intelligence is disturbed. Your teeth are loose, your liver is defective, and you are coughing up mucus.
अहो महीयसी जन्तोर्जीविताशा यथा भवान् । भीमापवर्जितं पिण्डमादत्ते गृहपालवत् ॥ २३ ॥
aho mahiyasi jantor jivitasa yatha bhavan bhimapavarjitam pindam adatte grha-palavat
Alas, how powerful are the hopes of a living being to continue his life. Verily, you are living just like a household dog and are eating remnants of food given by Bhima.
अग्निर्निसृष्टो दत्तश्च गरो दाराश्च दूषिता: । हृतं क्षेत्रं धनं येषां तद्दत्तैरसुभि: कियत् ॥ २४ ॥
agnir nisrsto dattas ca garo daras ca dusitah hrtam ksetram dhanam yesam tad-dattair asubhih kiyat
There is no need to live a degraded life and subsist on the charity of those whom you tried to kill by arson and poisoning. You also insulted one of their wives and usurped their kingdom and wealth.
तस्यापि तव देहोऽयं कृपणस्य जिजीविषो: । परैत्यनिच्छतो जीर्णो जरया वाससी इव ॥ २५ ॥
tasyapi tava deho ’yam krpanasya jijivisoh paraity anicchato jirno jaraya vasasi iva
Despite your unwillingness to die and your desire to live even at the cost of honor and prestige, your miserly body will certainly dwindle and deteriorate like an old garment.
गतस्वार्थमिमं देहं विरक्तो मुक्तबन्धन: । अविज्ञातगतिर्जह्यात् स वै धीर उदाहृत: ॥ २६ ॥
gata-svartham imam deham virakto mukta-bandhanah avijnata-gatir jahyat sa vai dhira udahrtah
He is called undisturbed who goes to an unknown, remote place and, freed from all obligations, quits his material body when it has become useless.
य: स्वकात्परतो वेह जातनिर्वेद आत्मवान् । हृदि कृत्वा हरिं गेहात्प्रव्रजेत्स नरोत्तम: ॥ २७ ॥
yah svakat parato veha jata-nirveda atmavan hrdi krtva harim gehat pravrajet sa narottamah
He is certainly a first-class man who awakens and understands, either by himself or from others, the falsity and misery of this material world and thus leaves home and depends fully on the Personality of Godhead residing within his heart.
अथोदीचीं दिशं यातु स्वैरज्ञातगतिर्भवान् । इतोऽर्वाक्प्रायश: काल: पुंसां गुणविकर्षण: ॥ २८ ॥
athodicim disam yatu svair ajnata-gatir bhavan ito ’rvak prayasah kalah pumsam guna-vikarsanah
Please, therefore, leave for the North immediately, without letting your relatives know, for soon that time will approach which will diminish the good qualities of men.
एवं राजा विदुरेणानुजेन प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्बोधित आजमीढ: । छित्त्वा स्वेषु स्नेहपाशान्द्रढिम्नो निश्चक्राम भ्रातृसन्दर्शिताध्वा ॥ २९ ॥
evam raja vidurenanujena prajna-caksur bodhita ajamidhah chittva svesu sneha-pasan dradhimno niscakrama bhratr-sandarsitadhva
Thus Maharaja Dhrtarastra, the scion of the family of Ajamidha, firmly convinced by introspective knowledge (prajna), broke at once the strong network of familial affection by his resolute determination. Thus he immediately left home to set out on the path of liberation, as directed by his younger brother Vidura.
पतिं प्रयान्तं सुबलस्य पुत्री पतिव्रता चानुजगाम साध्वी । हिमालयं न्यस्तदण्डप्रहर्षं मनस्विनामिव सत्सम्प्रहार: ॥ ३० ॥
patim prayantam subalasya putri pati-vrata canujagama sadhvi himalayam nyasta-danda-praharsam manasvinam iva sat sampraharah
The gentle and chaste Gandhari, who was the daughter of King Subala of Kandahar (or Gandhara), followed her husband, seeing that he was going to the Himalaya Mountains, which are the delight of those who have accepted the staff of the renounced order like fighters who have accepted a good lashing from the enemy.
अजातशत्रु: कृतमैत्रो हुताग्नि- र्विप्रान्नत्वा तिलगोभूमिरुक्मै: । गृहं प्रविष्टो गुरुवन्दनाय न चापश्यत्पितरौ सौबलीं च ॥ ३१ ॥
ajata-satruh krta-maitro hutagnir vipran natva tila-go-bhumi-rukmaih grham pravisto guru-vandanaya na capasyat pitarau saubalim ca
Maharaja Yudhisthira, whose enemy was never born, performed his daily morning duties by praying, offering fire sacrifice to the sun-god, and offering obeisances, grains, cows, land and gold to the brahmanas. He then entered the palace to pay respects to the elderly. However, he could not find his uncles or aunt, the daughter of King Subala.
तत्र सञ्जयमासीनं पप्रच्छोद्विग्नमानस: । गावल्गणे क्व नस्तातो वृद्धो हीनश्च नेत्रयो: ॥ ३२ ॥
tatra sanjayam asinam papracchodvigna-manasah gavalgane kva nas tato vrddho hinas ca netrayoh
Maharaja Yudhisthira, full of anxiety, turned to Sanjaya, who was sitting there, and said: O Sanjaya, where is our uncle, who is old and blind?
अम्बा च हतपुत्रार्ता पितृव्य: क्व गत: सुहृत् । अपि मय्यकृतप्रज्ञे हतबन्धु: स भार्यया । आशंसमान: शमलं गङ्गायां दु:खितोऽपतत् ॥ ३३ ॥
amba ca hata-putrarta pitrvyah kva gatah suhrt api mayy akrta-prajne hata-bandhuh sa bharyaya asamsamanah samalam gangayam duhkhito ’patat
Where is my well-wisher, uncle Vidura, and mother Gandhari, who is very afflicted due to all her sons’ demise? My uncle Dhrtarastra was also very mortified due to the death of all his sons and grandsons. Undoubtedly I am very ungrateful. Did he, therefore, take my offenses very seriously and, along with his wife, drown himself in the Ganges?
पितर्युपरते पाण्डौ सर्वान्न: सुहृद: शिशून् । अरक्षतां व्यसनत: पितृव्यौ क्व गतावित: ॥ ३४ ॥
pitary uparate pandau sarvan nah suhrdah sisun araksatam vyasanatah pitrvyau kva gatav itah
When my father, Pandu, fell down and we were all small children, these two uncles gave us protection from all kinds of calamities. They were always our good well-wishers.
सूत उवाच कृपया स्नेडहवैक्लव्यात्सूतो विरहकर्शित: । आत्मेश्वरमचक्षाणो न प्रत्याहातिपीडित: ॥ ३५ ॥
suta uvaca krpaya sneha-vaiklavyat suto viraha-karsitah atmesvaram acaksano na pratyahatipiditah
Suta Gosvami said: Because of compassion and mental agitation, Sanjaya, not having seen his own master, Dhrtarastra, was aggrieved and could not properly reply to Maharaja Yudhisthira.
विमृज्याश्रूणि पाणिभ्यां विष्टभ्यात्मानमात्मना । अजातशत्रुं प्रत्यूचे प्रभो: पादावनुस्मरन् ॥ ३६ ॥
vimrjyasruni panibhyam vistabhyatmanam atmana ajata-satrum pratyuce prabhoh padav anusmaran
First he slowly pacified his mind by intelligence, and wiping away his tears and thinking of the feet of his master, Dhrtarastra, he began to reply to Maharaja Yudhisthira.
सञ्जय उवाच नाहं वेद व्यवसितं पित्रोर्व: कुलनन्दन । गान्धार्या वा महाबाहो मुषितोऽस्मि महात्मभि: ॥ ३७ ॥
sanjaya uvaca naham veda vyavasitam pitror vah kula-nandana gandharya va maha-baho musito ’smi mahatmabhih
Sanjaya said: My dear descendant of the Kuru dynasty, I have no information of the determination of your two uncles and Gandhari. O King, I have been cheated by those great souls.
अथाजगाम भगवान् नारद: सहतुम्बुरु: । प्रत्युत्थायाभिवाद्याह सानुजोऽभ्यर्चयन्मुनिम् ॥ ३८ ॥
athajagama bhagavan naradah saha-tumburuh pratyutthayabhivadyaha sanujo ’bhyarcayan munim
While Sanjaya was thus speaking, Sri Narada, the powerful devotee of the Lord, appeared on the scene carrying his tumburu. Maharaja Yudhisthira and his brothers received him properly by getting up from their seats and offering obeisances.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच नाहं वेद गतिं पित्रोर्भगवन् क्व गतावित: । अम्बा वा हतपुत्रार्ता क्व गता च तपस्विनी ॥ ३९ ॥
yudhisthira uvaca naham veda gatim pitror bhagavan kva gatav itah amba va hata-putrarta kva gata ca tapasvini
Maharaja Yudhisthira said: O godly personality, I do not know where my two uncles have gone. Nor can I find my ascetic aunt who is grief-stricken by the loss of all her sons.
कर्णधार इवापारे भगवान् पारदर्शक: । अथाबभाषे भगवान् नारदो मुनिसत्तम: ॥ ४० ॥
karnadhara ivapare bhagavan para-darsakah athababhase bhagavan narado muni-sattamah
You are like a captain of a ship in a great ocean and you can direct us to our destination. Thus addressed, the godly personality, Devarsi Narada, greatest of the philosopher devotees, began to speak.
नारद उवाच मा कञ्चन शुचो राजन् यदीश्वरवशं जगत् । लोका: सपाला यस्येमे वहन्ति बलिमीशितु: । स संयुनक्ति भूतानि स एव वियुनक्ति च ॥ ४१ ॥
narada uvaca ma kancana suco rajan yad isvara-vasam jagat lokah sapala yasyeme vahanti balim isituh sa samyunakti bhutani sa eva viyunakti ca
Sri Narada said: O pious King, do not lament for anyone, for everyone is under the control of the Supreme Lord. Therefore all living beings and their leaders carry on worship to be well protected. It is He only who brings them together and disperses them.
यथा गावो नसि प्रोतास्तन्त्यां बद्धाश्च दामभि: । वाक्तन्त्यां नामभिर्बद्धा वहन्ति बलिमीशितु: ॥ ४२ ॥
yatha gavo nasi protas tantyam baddhas ca damabhih vak-tantyam namabhir baddha vahanti balim isituh
As a cow, bound through the nose by a long rope, is conditioned, so also human beings are bound by different Vedic injunctions and are conditioned to obey the orders of the Supreme.
यथा क्रीडोपस्कराणां संयोगविगमाविह । इच्छया क्रीडितु: स्यातां तथैवेशेच्छया नृणाम् ॥ ४३ ॥
yatha kridopaskaranam samyoga-vigamav iha icchaya kridituh syatam tathaivesecchaya nrnam
As a player sets up and disperses his playthings according to his own sweet will, so the supreme will of the Lord brings men together and separates them.
यन्मन्यसे ध्रुवं लोकमध्रुवं वा न चोभयम् । सर्वथा न हि शोच्यास्ते स्नेहादन्यत्र मोहजात् ॥ ४४ ॥
yan manyase dhruvam lokam adhruvam va na cobhayam sarvatha na hi socyas te snehad anyatra mohajat
O King, in all circumstances, whether you consider the soul to be an eternal principle, or the material body to be perishable, or everything to exist in the impersonal Absolute Truth, or everything to be an inexplicable combination of matter and spirit, feelings of separation are due only to illusory affection and nothing more.
तस्माज्जह्यङ्ग वैक्लव्यमज्ञानकृतमात्मन: । कथं त्वनाथा: कृपणा वर्तेरंस्ते च मां विना ॥ ४५ ॥
tasmaj jahy anga vaiklavyam ajnana-krtam atmanah katham tv anathah krpana varterams te ca mam vina
Therefore give up your anxiety due to ignorance of the self. You are now thinking of how they, who are helpless poor creatures, will exist without you.
कालकर्मगुणाधीनो देहोऽयं पाञ्चभौतिक: । कथमन्यांस्तु गोपायेत्सर्पग्रस्तो यथा परम् ॥ ४६ ॥
kala-karma-gunadhino deho ’yam panca-bhautikah katham anyams tu gopayet sarpa-grasto yatha param
This gross material body made of five elements is already under the control of eternal time (kala), action (karma) and the modes of material nature (guna). How, then, can it, being already in the jaws of the serpent, protect others?
अहस्तानि सहस्तानामपदानि चतुष्पदाम् । फल्गूनि तत्र महतां जीवो जीवस्य जीवनम् ॥ ४७ ॥
ahastani sahastanam apadani catus-padam phalguni tatra mahatam jivo jivasya jivanam
Those who are devoid of hands are prey for those who have hands; those devoid of legs are prey for the four-legged. The weak are the subsistence of the strong, and the general rule holds that one living being is food for another.
तदिदं भगवान् राजन्नेक आत्मात्मनां स्वदृक् । अन्तरोऽनन्तरो भाति पश्य तं माययोरुधा ॥ ४८ ॥
tad idam bhagavan rajann eka atmatmanam sva-drk antaro ’nantaro bhati pasya tam mayayorudha
Therefore, O King, you should look to the Supreme Lord only, who is one without a second and who manifests Himself by different energies and is both within and without.
सोऽयमद्य महाराज भगवान् भूतभावन: । कालरूपोऽवतीर्णोऽस्यामभावाय सुरद्विषाम् ॥ ४९ ॥
so ’yam adya maharaja bhagavan bhuta-bhavanah kala-rupo ’vatirno ’syam abhavaya sura-dvisam
That Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, in the guise of all-devouring time (kala-rupa) has now descended on earth to eliminate the envious from the world.
निष्पादितं देवकृत्यमवशेषं प्रतीक्षते । तावद् यूयमवेक्षध्वं भवेद् यावदिहेश्वर: ॥ ५० ॥
nispaditam deva-krtyam avasesam pratiksate tavad yuyam aveksadhvam bhaved yavad ihesvarah
The Lord has already performed His duties to help the demigods, and He is awaiting the rest. You Pandavas may wait as long as the Lord is here on earth.
धृतराष्ट्र: सह भ्रात्रा गान्धार्या च स्वभार्यया । दक्षिणेन हिमवत ऋषीणामाश्रमं गत: ॥ ५१ ॥
dhrtarastrah saha bhratra gandharya ca sva-bharyaya daksinena himavata rsinam asramam gatah
O King, your uncle Dhrtarastra, his brother Vidura and his wife Gandhari have gone to the southern side of the Himalaya Mountains, where there are shelters of the great sages.
स्रोतोभि: सप्तभिर्या वै स्वर्धुनी सप्तधा व्यधात् । सप्तानां प्रीतये नाना सप्तस्रोत: प्रचक्षते ॥ ५२ ॥
srotobhih saptabhir ya vai svardhuni saptadha vyadhat saptanam pritaye nana sapta-srotah pracaksate
The place is called Saptasrota (divided by seve) because there the waters of the sacred Ganges were divided into seven branches. This was done for the satisfaction of the seven great rsis.
स्नात्वानुसवनं तस्मिन्हुत्वा चाग्नीन्यथाविधि । अब्भक्ष उपशान्तात्मा स आस्ते विगतैषण: ॥ ५३ ॥
snatvanusavanam tasmin hutva cagnin yatha-vidhi ab-bhaksa upasantatma sa aste vigataisanah
On the banks at Saptasrota, Dhrtarastra is now engaged in beginning astanga-yoga by bathing three times daily, in the morning, noon and evening, by performing the Agni-hotra sacrifice with fire and by drinking only water. This helps one control the mind and the senses and frees one completely from thoughts of familial affection.
जितासनो जितश्वास: प्रत्याहृतषडिन्द्रिय: । हरिभावनया ध्वस्तरज:सत्त्वतमोमल: ॥ ५४ ॥
jitasano jita-svasah pratyahrta-sad-indriyah hari-bhavanaya dhvasta- rajah-sattva-tamo-malah
One who has controlled the sitting postures (the yogic asanas) and the breathing process can turn the senses toward the Absolute Personality of Godhead and thus become immune to the contaminations of the modes of material nature, namely mundane goodness, passion and ignorance.
विज्ञानात्मनि संयोज्य क्षेत्रज्ञे प्रविलाप्य तम् । ब्रह्मण्यात्मानमाधारे घटाम्बरमिवाम्बरे ॥ ५५ ॥
vijnanatmani samyojya ksetrajne pravilapya tam brahmany atmanam adhare ghatambaram ivambare
Dhrtarastra will have to amalgamate his pure identity with intelligence and then merge into the Supreme Being with knowledge of his qualitative oneness, as a living entity, with the Supreme Brahman. Being freed from the blocked sky, he will have to rise to the spiritual sky.
ध्वस्तमायागुणोदर्को निरुद्धकरणाशय: । निवर्तिताखिलाहार आस्ते स्थाणुरिवाचल: । तस्यान्तरायो मैवाभू: सन्न्यस्ताखिलकर्मण: ॥ ५६ ॥
dhvasta-maya-gunodarko niruddha-karanasayah nivartitakhilahara aste sthanur ivacalah tasyantarayo maivabhuh sannyastakhila-karmanah
He will have to suspend all the actions of the senses, even from the outside, and will have to be impervious to interactions of the senses, which are influenced by the modes of material nature. After renouncing all material duties, he must become immovably established, beyond all sources of hindrances on the path.
स वा अद्यतनाद् राजन् परत: पञ्चमेऽहनि । कलेवरं हास्यति स्वं तच्च भस्मीभविष्यति ॥ ५७ ॥
sa va adyatanad rajan paratah pancame ’hani kalevaram hasyati svam tac ca bhasmi-bhavisyati
O King, he will quit his body, most probably on the fifth day from today. And his body will turn to ashes.
दह्यमानेऽग्निभिर्देहे पत्यु: पत्नी सहोटजे । बहि: स्थिता पतिं साध्वी तमग्निमनु वेक्ष्यति ॥ ५८ ॥
dahyamane ’gnibhir dehe patyuh patni sahotaje bahih sthita patim sadhvi tam agnim anu veksyati
While outside observing her husband, who will burn in the fire of mystic power along with his thatched cottage, his chaste wife will enter the fire with rapt attention.
विदुरस्तु तदाश्चर्यं निशाम्य कुरुनन्दन । हर्षशोकयुतस्तस्माद् गन्ता तीर्थनिषेवक: ॥ ५९ ॥
viduras tu tad ascaryam nisamya kuru-nandana harsa-soka-yutas tasmad ganta tirtha-nisevakah
Vidura, being affected with delight and grief, will then leave that place of sacred pilgrimage.
इत्युक्त्वाथारुहत् स्वर्गं नारद: सहतुम्बुरु: । युधिष्ठिरो वचस्तस्य हृदि कृत्वाजहाच्छुच: ॥ ६० ॥
ity uktvatharuhat svargam naradah saha-tumburuh yudhisthiro vacas tasya hrdi krtvajahac chucah
Having spoken thus, the great sage Narada, along with his vina, ascended into outer space. Yudhisthira kept his instruction in his heart and so was able to get rid of all lamentations.
