SB 1.13.14 (1965)

SB (1965) Thirteenth Chapter - Dhritarastra Quits Home

SB 1.13.13 (1965) - SB 1.13.15 (1965)

Compare Versions: SB 1965 with SB 1972-77

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT No. 14

Kanchit kalam atha abatsit satkrito devabat sukham Bhratur jyesthasya sreyaskrit sarvesam sukham abahan.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Kanchit—for a few days, Kalam—time, Atha—thus, Abatsit—resided, Satkrito—being well treated, Devavat—just like a godly personality, Sukham—amenities, Bhratur—of the brother, Jyesthasya—of the elder brother, Sreyaskrit—for doing good to him, Sarvesam—all others, Sukham—happiness, Abahan—made it possible.

TRANSLATION

Thus Mahatma Vidura being well treated by his kinsmen just like a godly person, he remained there for a certain period just for the sake of rectifying the mentality of his eldest brother and by the way happiness was invited for all others.

PURPORT

Saintly person like Vidura must be treated well as much as a denizen from the heaven is received. In those days denizens of heavenly planets used to visit the home like that of Maharaj Yudhisthira and sometimes persons like Arjuna and others also used to visit higher planets. Narada is a spaceman who can travel unrestrictedly not only within the material universes but also he can travel in the spiritual universes. Even Narada also used to visit the palace of Maharaj Yudhisthira and what to speak of other celestial demigods. It depends only on spiritual culture of the people concerned that makes it possible interplanetary travel even by the present body. Maharaj Yudhisthira therefore received Vidura in the manner of reception offered to the demigods.

Mahatma Vidura had already adopted the renounced order of life and therefore he did not return to his paternal palace for enjoying some material comforts. He accepted out of his own mercy what was offered to him by Maharaj Yudhisthira but the purpose of living in the palace was to deliver his too much materially attached elder brother Dhritarastra. Dhritarastra lost all his state and descendants in the fight with Maharaj Yudhisthira and still due to his sense of helplessness he did not feel ashamed to accept charity and hospitality of Maharaj Yudhisthira. From the part of Maharaj Yudhisthir it was quite in order to maintain his uncle in a befitting manner, but acceptance of such magnanimons hospitality by Dhritarastra was not at all desirable. He accepted it because he thought it there was no other alternative. Vidura particularly came to enlighten Dhritarastra from his inferior complex and to give him a lift to the higher status of spiritual cognition. It is the duty of enlightened souls to deliver the fallen ones and Vidura came there from that point of view. But talks of spiritual enlightenment is so much refreshing that while instructing Dhritarastra Vidura attracted the attention of all the members of the family and all of them took pleasure to hear him patiently. This is the way of spiritual realisation. The message shall be given an attentive aural reception and being spoken by a realised soul it will act on the dormant heart of the conditioned soul. And a continuous practice of such bonafide aural reception will raise the hearer to the perfect stage of self-realisation.

(Compare SB 1.13.14 Current Edition)

SB 1.13.13 (1965) - SB 1.13.15 (1965)