Shloka 19
Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment
प्रतिक्रिया न यस्येह कुतश्चित्कर्हिचित्प्रभो । स एष भगवान् काल: सर्वेषां न: समागत: ॥ १९ ॥
pratikriyā na yasyeha kutaścit karhicit prabho sa eṣa bhagavān kālaḥ sarveṣāṁ naḥ samāgataḥ
My lord, no one in this material world can remedy this fearful condition. It is Bhagavān Himself, as Kāla—eternal time—who has approached us all.
There is no superior power which can check the cruel hands of death. No one wants to die, however acute the source of bodily sufferings may be. Even in the days of so-called scientific advancement of knowledge, there is no remedial measure either for old age or for death. Old age is the notice of the arrival of death served by cruel time, and no one can refuse to accept either summon calls or the supreme judgment of eternal time. This is explained before Dhṛtarāṣṭra because he might ask Vidura to find out some remedial measure for the imminent fearful situation, as he had ordered many times before. Before ordering, however, Vidura informed Dhṛtarāṣṭra that there was no remedial measure by anyone or from any source in this material world. And because there is no such thing in the material world, death is identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as it is said by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) .
FAQs
This verse identifies Kāla (Time) as Bhagavān—an irresistible divine force for whom no remedy or counteraction works; Time arrives for everyone without exception.
Vidura warns Dhṛtarāṣṭra that old age and death are unavoidable—Time has already come—so he should stop clinging to royal comfort and turn toward renunciation and spiritual realization.
Recognize that time cannot be negotiated; prioritize lasting spiritual practices—bhakti, self-discipline, and letting go of unhealthy attachments—before life’s opportunities pass.