Shloka 26
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
विवेश विदुरो धीमान् गात्रैर्गात्राणि चैव ह । प्राणान् प्राणेषु च दधदिन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियेषु च,बुद्धिमान् विदुर अपने शरीरको युधिष्ठिरके शरीरमें, प्राणोंको प्राणोंमें और इन्द्रियोंको उनकी इन्द्रियोंमें स्थापित करके उनके भीतर समा गये इति श्रीमहाभारते आश्रमवासिके पर्वणि आश्रमवासपर्वणि विदुरनिर्याणे षड्विंशो5ध्याय:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | viveśa viduro dhīmān gātrair gātrāṇi caiva ha | prāṇān prāṇeṣu ca dadhad indriyāṇīndriyeṣu ca ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The wise Vidura entered (into Yudhiṣṭhira). He placed limb into limb, breath into breath, and sense-faculties into sense-faculties—merging his very being into the king. The scene presents Vidura’s final act as one of disciplined yogic withdrawal and selfless union, affirming that true wisdom culminates in inner mastery rather than outward power.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights yogic mastery at life’s end: the wise person withdraws and integrates body, breath, and senses with perfect control, suggesting that spiritual attainment and selflessness surpass worldly status.
Vidura, having reached the culmination of his life and practice, mystically enters Yudhiṣṭhira—symbolizing the transfer/absorption of his embodied energies (limbs, prāṇa, and senses) and marking Vidura’s departure (niryāṇa).