॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Friday, 23 September 2022 - The first chapter of the third Skandha- Vidura on his extensive pilgrimage arrives at Prabhasa and enquires from Uddhava about everyone’s welfare, especially of Sri Krishna.
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Sage Shuka said, “Oh King, the questions you posed were the same posed by Vidura to Sage Maitreya. He had left Hastinapura and gone on a pilgrimage.”
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King Dhṛtarāṣṭra became really blind as he allowed all the sinful actions of his sons.
यदा सभायां कुरुदेवदेव्या: केशाभिमर्शं सुतकर्म गर्ह्यम् ।
न वारयामास नृप: स्नुषाया: स्वास्रैर्हरन्त्या: कुचकुङ्कुमानि ॥
T: “The King did not stop his son Duhshasana’s abominable act of grabbing the hair of Draupadi, the wife of the godly King Yudhishthira, in his court, even as her tears washed the vermillion dust on her breast.”
“Yudhishthira had no enemies. He went righteously to the forest during banishment and on his return requested King Dhritarashtra for his rightful share of the kingdom. Neither did the King accede nor entertain Sri Krishna properly when he came as an emissary.”
“After that event, when Vidura was consulted, he advised what was righteous and proper for the welfare of Hastinapura. The portion of the kingdom which had been Pandavas' had to be restored to the Pandavas. He pointed out that Sri Krishna was championing the rights of the Pandavas and the entire world’s army was behind him. But Duryodhana who was with his brothers, Karna, and Shakuni insulted Vidura abominably.”
स एष दोषः पुरुषद्विडास्ते गृहान् प्रविष्टो यमपत्यमत्या।
पुष्णासि कृषणाद्विमुखो गतश्रीः त्यजाश्चशैवं कुलकौशलाय॥
T: Duryodhana spoke to his father: “Who invited this Vidura to come and give his advice when he is disloyal to us even after we have fed him thus far? Vidura spies for Pandavas! Throw him out at once with nothing except his breath!”
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In that most critical moment, Vidura quietly left the palace placing his ministerial insignia at its doorwat and left on a long pilgrimage as a mendicant, meditating on Sri Krishna. He visited many holy places like Mathura, Ayodhya and Dwaraka. Thereafter he passed through very wealthy provinces like Surat, Sauvira and Matsya and through western India, known as Kurujangala. At last, he reached the bank of the Yamuna, where he met Uddhava, the great devotee of Sri Krishna.
Embracing Uddhava, who was a dear companion of Sri Krishna and a disciple of Brihaspati, Vidura enquired with much feeling about the welfare of Sri Krishna and his family.
“Uddhava, please tell me how is Sri Krishna! He cares so much for the Pandavas and is so kind to his sisters as well as affectionate to his wives. How is the valiant Pradyumna, born to Rukmini? How is Samba, once born as Karttikeya to Shiva, now the son of Jambavati? How is Ugrasena? How is Yuyutsu? How is Akrura, so devoted to Sri Krishna? Is the blessed mother of Sri Krishna, Devaki, well? How is Aniruddha? "
"Is King Yudhishthira maintaining the kingdom according to Dharma? Duryodhana opposed him so much and Sri Krishna and Arjuna were his protective arms. How is Bhima with his mace? How is Arjuna with his Gandiva? How are Nakula and Sahadeva? How is Devi Kunti who has undergone so much suffering after the death of the glorious king Pandu."
“I am not surprised at Dhritarashthra’s misdeeds as I now know that only by the Lord’s grace does one travel on the difficult path of Dharma. And yet Sri Krishna gave a long rope to him and the Kauravas.”
“Uddhava, I now know that the Lord takes an incarnation only to remedy the imbalance in Dharma. Therefore I urge you to pray devotedly to the Lord and chant His glories always. I know that Sri Krishna was born only to take care of the Yadus.”
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
