Shloka 33
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
लोका: सान्तानिका नाम भविष्यन्त्यस्थ भारत । यतिधर्ममवाप्तोडसौ नैष शोच्य: परंतप
lokāḥ sāntānikā nāma bhaviṣyanty asya bhārata | yatidharmaṃ avāpto 'sau naiṣa śocyaḥ parantapa ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô Bhārata, pour lui il y aura des mondes appelés Sāntānika. Puisqu’il a atteint la discipline du renonçant (yati-dharma), il n’est pas de ceux qu’il faut pleurer, ô fléau des ennemis.» Dans le récit, une voix venue du ciel retient le roi d’accomplir les rites de crémation pour le corps de Vidura, affirmant qu’honorer la règle du renonçant est en soi le dharma, et que l’accomplissement spirituel de Vidura ôte toute raison au chagrin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not cling to conventional rites or grief when a person has attained yati-dharma (renunciant discipline). Spiritual attainment and adherence to ascetic rule redefine what is appropriate (dharma) and remove the basis for mourning.
As the king considers performing the cremation for Vidura’s body, a heavenly voice declares that cremation here is not proper because Vidura lived by renunciant discipline; instead, the king should refrain, and Vidura is said to attain the Sāntānika worlds—therefore he should not be mourned.