SB 1.13.18 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 18
- Viduras tad abhipretya dhritarastram abhisata
- Rajan nirgamatam shighram pasya edam bhayam agatam.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Vidura—Mahatma Vidura, Tad—that, abhipretya—Knowing it well, Dhritarastram—unto Dhritarastra, Abhasata—said, Rajan—oh King, Nirgamatam—please get out immediately, Shighram—without the least delay, Pasya—just see, Edam—this, Bhayam—fearfulness, Agatam—already arrived.
TRANSLATION
Mahatma Vidura knew all these and therefore he addressed Dhritarastra and said 'my dear King, please get out immediately without the least delay and just see how fearfulness has overtaken you.'
PURPORT
Cruel death cares for none may he be Dhritarastra or even Maharaj Yudhisthira; therefore spiritual instructions as was given to old Dhritarastra, was eqally applicable also to younger Maharaj Yudhisthira. As a matter of fact everyone in the royal palace including the King and his brothers and mother were raptly attending the lectures. But it was known to Vidura that his instructions were specially meant for Dhritarastra, who was too much materialistic. The word 'Rajan' is specially addressed to Dhritarastra significantly. Dhritarastra was the eldest son of his father and therefore according to law he was to be enshrined on the throne of Hastinapur. But because he was blind from birth he became disqualified from his rightful claim. But he could not forget the berievement and his disappointment was tried to be compensated after the death of Pandu his younger brother. His younger brother left behind him some minor children and Dhritarastra became the natural guardian of them but at heart he wanted to become the factual King and wanted to hand over the kingdom to his own sons headed by Duryodhone. With all these imperial ambitions, Dhritarastra wanted to become a King and contrived all sorts of intrigues in consultation with his brother-in-law Sakuni. But everything failed by the will of the Lord and at the last stage even by losing everything men and money he wanted to remain as the King being the eldest uncle of Maharaj Yudhisthir. Maharaj Yudhisthir as a matter of duty maintained Dhritarastra exactly in royal honour and Dhritarastra was happily passing away his numbered days in the illusion of becoming a King or the royal uncle of king Yudhisthira. Vidura as a saint and as duty bound affectionate youngest brother of Dhritarastra, wanted to awake Dhritarastra from his slumber of becoming a false king driven to disease and old age by the fricks of powerful time. Vidura therefore, sarcastically addressed Dhritarastra as the 'king' which he was actually not. Every body is the servant of eternal time and therefore nobody can be king in this material order. King means the person who can order. The celebrated English King wanted to order over the time and tide but the time and tide refused to obey his order. Therefore one is a false king in the material world and Dhritarastra was particularly reminded in his false position and was reminded also about the factual fearful happenings which had already approached him at that time. Vidura asked him to get out immediately if he wanted at all to be saved from the fearful situation which was approaching him fast. He did not ask Maharaj Yudhisthira in that way because he knew it well that a king like Maharaj Yudhisthira is aware of all the fearful situation of this flimsy world and he would take care of himself in due course even though Vidura may not be present at that time.