Shloka 19

Vyāsa’s Inquiry into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Tapas and the Identification of Vidura with Dharma

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनप्रभूतयो दृष्टा लोकान्तरं गता: । व्यासस्य तपसो वीर्याद्‌ भवतश्न समागमात्‌

Transliteration

duryodhana-prabhūtayo dṛṣṭā lokāntaraṃ gatāḥ | vyāsasya tapaso vīryād bhavataś ca samāgamāt ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Duryodhana and the others—those who had departed to the other world—have been seen. By the potency of Vyāsa’s austerities and by your presence and meeting with me, I have obtained a vision of my sons who dwell in the beyond. Therefore the purpose of my continuing to live is fulfilled. O blameless one, now I shall devote myself to severe austerity; grant me permission for this.”

Word by Word

• {'duryodhana-prabhūtayaḥ': 'Duryodhana and the rest

• those headed by Duryodhana', 'dṛṣṭāḥ': 'seen

• beheld', 'lokāntaram': 'the other world

• the next realm (after death)', 'gatāḥ': 'gone

• departed', 'vyāsasya': 'of Vyāsa', 'tapasaḥ': 'of austerity

• ascetic practice', 'vīryāt': 'from the power/efficacy', 'bhavataḥ': 'of you (honorific)

• your', 'ca': 'and', 'samāgamāt': 'from meeting/coming together

• from your arrival/association', 'anagha': 'O sinless/blameless one (term of address)', 'kaṭhoram': 'severe

• rigorous', 'tapas(y)ām': 'in austerity

• in ascetic discipline', 'saṃlagnaḥ': 'engaged

• devoted', 'anumati': 'permission

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Duryodhana
• Vyāsa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how spiritual power (tapas) and sacred mediation can grant closure even after immense loss, and how that closure can turn one toward renunciation and disciplined austerity rather than continued attachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a divinely enabled vision of the departed—Duryodhana and others—made possible through Vyāsa’s ascetic potency and the addressee’s presence, the grieving elder declares his worldly purpose fulfilled and asks permission to undertake severe austerities.