Shloka 43
Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure
चीरवासा निराहारो बद्धवाङ्मुक्तमूर्धज: । दर्शयन्नात्मनो रूपं जडोन्मत्तपिशाचवत् । अनवेक्षमाणो निरगादशृण्वन्बधिरो यथा ॥ ४३ ॥
cīra-vāsā nirāhāro baddha-vāṅ mukta-mūrdhajaḥ darśayann ātmano rūpaṁ jaḍonmatta-piśācavat anavekṣamāṇo niragād aśṛṇvan badhiro yathā
ફાટેલા વસ્ત્રો પહેરી, ઘન આહાર ત્યજી, વાણી સંયમિત કરી અને વાળ ખુલ્લા રાખી તે જડ, ઉન્મત્ત કે પિશાચ સમાન દેખાયો; કોઈ તરફ નજર ન કરી બહાર નીકળી ગયો અને બહેરા જેવો કશું સાંભળ્યું નહીં।
Thus being freed from all external affairs, he had nothing to do with imperial life or family prestige, and for all practical purposes he posed himself exactly like an inert mad urchin and did not speak of material affairs. He had no dependence on his brothers, who had all along been helping him. This stage of complete independence from everything is also called the purified stage of fearlessness.
FAQs
This verse shows how a renounced devotee may conceal inner realization by adopting an outwardly neglected or eccentric appearance, avoiding distraction, honor, and interference while pursuing spiritual absorption.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes Vidura leaving without looking back—fasting, silent, and indifferent to worldly perception—signifying firm renunciation and single-minded spiritual purpose.
Practice purposeful detachment: reduce attention-seeking, simplify habits, guard your speech, and move forward without clinging to past identity—while keeping devotion and inner sincerity as the goal.