Shloka 31
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
धर्मराजश्न तत्रैव संचस्कारयिषुस्तदा । दग्धुकामो5भवद् विद्वानथ वागभ्यभाषत,अब दिद्दान् धर्मराजने वहीं विदुरके शरीरका दाह-संस्कार करनेका विचार किया। इतनेहीमें आकाशवाणी हुई--“राजन्! शत्रुसंतापी भरतनन्दन! इस विदुर नामक शरीरका यहाँ दाह-संस्कार करना उचित नहीं है; क्योंकि वे संन्यास-धर्मका पालन करते थे। यहाँ उनका दाह न करना ही तुम्हारे लिये सनातन धर्म है। विदुरजीको सान्तानिक नामक लोकोंकी प्राप्ति होगी; अतः उनके लिये शोक नहीं करना चाहिये”
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dharmarājaś ca tatraiva saṃcaskārayiṣus tadā | dagdhukāmo 'bhavad vidvān atha vāg abhyabhāṣata ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then, right there, King Dharmarāja, intending to perform the funerary rites, wished to cremate the wise Vidura. At that very moment, a disembodied voice spoke, restraining him—declaring that cremation here was not proper for one who had been observing the renunciant discipline, and that refraining from such rites in this case accords with the eternal dharma; therefore, grief should be set aside in view of Vidura’s higher attainment.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights that dharma is context-sensitive: customary funerary rites are not automatically applicable to everyone. For one established in renunciant discipline, a different standard is indicated, and the righteous king is guided to act without attachment and without grief, honoring the spiritual status of the departed.
Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) prepares to perform Vidura’s cremation rites on the spot. Before he proceeds, a divine/disembodied voice intervenes, instructing him that cremation there is not appropriate for Vidura due to his observance of renunciation, and that Yudhiṣṭhira should refrain and not mourn, given Vidura’s higher destination.