Shloka 31
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
धर्मराजश्न तत्रैव संचस्कारयिषुस्तदा । दग्धुकामो5भवद् विद्वानथ वागभ्यभाषत
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dharmarājaś ca tatraiva saṃcaskārayiṣus tadā | dagdhukāmo 'bhavad vidvān atha vāg abhyabhāṣata ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors, sur-le-champ, le roi Dharmarāja, voulant accomplir les rites funéraires, souhaita incinérer le sage Vidura. Mais à cet instant même, une voix désincarnée s’éleva pour l’en empêcher, déclarant qu’une crémation en ce lieu n’était pas convenable pour celui qui avait observé la discipline du renonçant, et que, dans ce cas, s’abstenir de tels rites s’accorde avec le dharma éternel ; aussi fallait-il déposer le chagrin, au regard de l’atteinte supérieure de Vidura.
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.