VIDURA

VIDURA

Acharyas say that the samskaram of a child to a great extend is from the mother. Her feelings/mind set at the time of copulation affects which male bheeja it attracts. That was reflected in the conception of Dritharashtra, Pandu, and Vidura, through Ambika, Ambalika, and their dasi Parishrami.

Vidhura grew up around a lot of Adharma, but he was not influenced by any of it. He was steadfast in his devotion to Bhagwan. He was the advisor of the Kauravas, and always gave them advice which he felt was right and tried to guide them, but they never listened to him. He saved the Pandavas from being torched at the wax house. He authorized a secret tunnel to save the Pandavas when he got to know of the evil plan behind the gifting of a magnificent castle to the Pandavas. When Bhagwan came as a messenger from Pandavas to the Kauravas, he refused to stay with the Kauravas instead chose to stay with Vidura.

Dhritarashtra gravely miscalculated the series of events with having to deal with a noncompromising and overambitious Duryodhana. He desperately sought advice from Vidura. Vidura said that Dhritarashtra that he could still stop the war if he wanted to. Pandavas were not given their rightful due, moreover they asked for the bare minimum, which he could easily give even now if he wanted. Duryodhana would listen to him if he insisted or else he should kick him out as his buddhi is blind. It could save a million lives. And so long as Bhagwan is by the side of the Pandavas, they cannot be defeated. Just as they were speaking Duryodhana, Dushasana, and Karna walk in, fuming in anger. Thet were repulsed that Vidura was supporting the Pandavas whilst eating the food Kauravas served, accusing him of betrayal and for being unfaithful too. Duryodhana further threatens to throw him out if he continues to stay in the palace. He outright told that he would not hesitate to use force to kick him out. Vidura was caught by surprise, but soon recovered. What surprised him more was that Dhritarashtra did not utter a word throughout this incident. The attachment to his son was beyond repair.

It took him a minute to get back to reality and then he smiled. He immediately realised that it was the compassion of Bhagwan that this incident took place as Bhagwan would have wanted him to progress further. It was probably destined that he leaves the palace, only then would he get opportunity to meet the great sages and seers. He also thought that probably Bhagwan did not want to witness the disaster of the war.

We are guided by 2 forces of veekshanam in the ‘Front’ the Lokam that represents dreams and expectation and ‘Behind’ is the Kalam (time) that represents destiny, the unexpected. Acharyas tell us that the ship in the water will not drown as such, but if the water did get inside the ship, it will surely drown. Likewise, if you let the problems get to you it will drag you down. Every curse is a boon in disguise that was what Vidura’s Prasada Buddhi guided him towads. He sets out on a theerthayatra, visiting sages and the holy places.

In one of his journeys, he encounters Uddhava,* lifelong friend of Bhagwan. By the forlone look itself Vidura had a bad feeling and Uddhava was carrying Paduka (slippers) on his head. Vidura enquired as to what happened and Uddhava broke down.

It was in a cry of despair wailing his heart out when Uddhava told Vidura that the person he sought had left for his heavenly abode. His sorrow knew no bounds. Bhagwan had left his mortal body and Yadu kula was completely destroyed and Dwaraka had been consumed by the ocean. He was uncontrollable in his melancholy of the loss of his friend and comrade. Vidura was caught unawares with this piece of news because his destination was Bhagwan and Dwaraka. But he recomposed himself and asked Uddhava where he was going. Uddhava’s replied that after the Tatwa Upadesha Bhagwan had instructed him to go to Badrinath and he was on his way there. Vidura requested Uddhava to share the Upadesha that Bhagwan had given him. To that Uddhava replied that Bhagwan had foreseen everything. Just before he left his mortal body Bhagwan had told him that he would meet Vidura on his way and that he should guide him to Maitreya Maharshi, who had already been instructed and guided by Bhagwan to provide the Upadesha to Vidura.

Vidura is now convinced that there was a purpose behind Duryodhana kicking him out. Everything happens for a reason. The big picture is only what Bhagwan can see. He was calm and he continued his journey to visit ashramas enroute meeting Maitreya Maharshi. There he gained the knowledge that he was destined to receive. He then decided to visit Hastinapuram. By now it was 35 years since the Mahabharata war. As he walked into the palace, King Yudhishtira and the other Pandavas recognized their uncle, who they saw was full of tejas (fiery energy and brilliance). They were happy and welcomed him with honours.

They enquired about his wellbeing and of his experiences over the years that passed. Except for Bhagwan’s deha viyogam (death) and the dissolution of the yadu kula, he narrated all the other experiences in detail. Vidura was sure that Bhagwan’s deha viyogam was not something Yudhishtira could handle right then. Strolling in the palace, he saw a peculiar incident where he witnessed Bheema literally feeding Dhritarashtra and Gandhari with his own hands.

Later that night he walked into the chamber of Dhritarashtra who immediately recognized the footsteps of his brother and was overwhelmed with joy. But the response he got was of chiding and sarcasm with Vidura calling him shameless and so on. Vidura continued saying that the Vamsa (lineage) that Dhritarashtra wanted to eradicate was the same vamsa that was feeding him now. Vidura reminded him how he tried to suffocate Bheema to death when they came to seek their blessing. ** He gave an upadesam (sermon) to Dhritarashtra. He told him that they were all nearing death and advised that he should to go with him into the forest; withdraw and spend time in reflecting in the antaratma during his old age. Dhritarashtra is happy that Vidura opened his eyes. Even though he was one of the witnesses to Bhagawath Geeta through Sanjaya, he never grasped the knowledge. And so, they decided to leave before daybreak, before the Pandavas wake up, and Gandhari too decided to join them. Sanjaya was in tears as they took leave of him and left the palace. They went towards Haridwar and where both of them lived in Bhagwat Smarana and soon enough the misery and guilt were washed away with the continuous Japa and they left their physical body. Vidura did the last rites and left Haridwar and continued on his journey.

*Uddhava was also Bhagwan’s cousin whom Bhagwan befriended when he came to Madhura from Vrindavan. He was much more intelligent and smarter than Arjuna. His bhakti was also very deep that he foresaw things. Bhagwan was surprised at this guna and most often he sent Udhava on errands which he personally couldn’t undertake. His life was completely for Bhawan. He only ate the Ucchista (the remainder of the food that Bhagwan left) and only wore clothes that were handouts from Bhagwan.

**Reference to the time the Pandavas came to seek blessings and forgiveness from Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Yudhishtira was the first to seek their blessing and when Bheema went to seek Krishna signalled him to stop and put a metal statue of Bheema instead. When Dhritarashtra hugged the statue, it crushed. Dhritarashtra pretended to be upset but Krishna told him that it was only a statue. Bhagwan knew this would happen that is why he had the statue made. As a father he had heard the way Duryodhana and Dushasanna had died. So, he was vengeful more towards Bheema.