Shloka 24
Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment
अग्निर्निसृष्टो दत्तश्च गरो दाराश्च दूषिता: । हृतं क्षेत्रं धनं येषां तद्दत्तैरसुभि: कियत् ॥ २४ ॥
agnir nisṛṣṭo dattaś ca garo dārāś ca dūṣitāḥ hṛtaṁ kṣetraṁ dhanaṁ yeṣāṁ tad-dattair asubhiḥ kiyat
There is no need to live a degraded life and subsist on the charity of those whom you tried to kill by arson and poisoning. You also insulted their married wife and usurped their kingdom and wealth.
The system of varṇāśrama religion sets aside a part of one’s life completely for the purpose of self-realization and attainment of salvation in the human form of life. That is a routine division of life, but persons like Dhṛtarāṣṭra, even at their weary ripened age, want to stay home, even in a degraded condition of accepting charity from enemies. Vidura wanted to point this out and impressed upon him that it was better to die like his sons than accept such humiliating charity. Five thousand years ago there was one Dhṛtarāṣṭra, but at the present moment there are Dhṛtarāṣṭras in every home. Politicians especially do not retire from political activities unless they are dragged by the cruel hand of death or killed by some opposing element. To stick to family life to the end of one’s human life is the grossest type of degradation and there is an absolute need for the Viduras to educate such Dhṛtarāṣṭras, even at the present moment.
FAQs
This verse condemns living on the maintenance of the very people one previously tried to destroy, calling such dependence shameful and spiritually degrading.
Vidura wanted to awaken Dhritarashtra from lifelong attachment and denial, urging him to leave home and seek spiritual purification before death, instead of relying on the Pandavas’ mercy.
Do honest self-audit, accept responsibility for past wrongs, and cultivate dignified detachment—reduce exploitative dependence and turn toward sincere spiritual practice.