Shloka 1
Vidura’s Message to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Authorization for Dāna and Public Welfare (विदुरवाक्यम्—दानानुज्ञा)
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर वहाँ राजा धृतराष्ट्रसे मिलनेके लिये नारद, पर्वत, महातपस्वी देवल, शिष्योंसहित महर्षि व्यास तथा अन्यान्य सिद्धू, मनीषी, श्रेष्ठ मुनिगण आये। उनके साथ परम धर्मात्मा वृद्ध राजर्षि शतयूप भी पधारे थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca— janamejaya! tad-anantaraṁ tatra rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ draṣṭuṁ nāradaḥ parvataḥ mahātapā devalaḥ śiṣyaiḥ saha maharṣiḥ vyāsaś ca anye ca siddhāḥ manīṣiṇaḥ śreṣṭhā munayaḥ samāyayuḥ; teṣāṁ saha paramadharmātmā vṛddhaḥ rājarṣiḥ śatayūpaḥ api upāgamat.
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Janamejaya, setelah itu banyak tamu mulia datang ke sana untuk menemui Raja Dhṛtarāṣṭra—Nārada, Parvata, pertapa agung Devala, Maharsi Vyāsa beserta para muridnya, serta para siddha, cendekia, dan resi utama lainnya. Bersama mereka hadir pula resi-raja tua Śatayūpa, termasyhur karena kebajikannya yang luhur.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic authority: when a ruler enters a phase of withdrawal and moral reckoning, the presence of sages and perfected beings signifies that ethical guidance, austerity, and truth-oriented counsel are essential supports for right living—especially after political catastrophe.
After earlier events, a gathering of eminent sages and accomplished beings arrives to meet Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Nārada, Parvata, Devala, Vyāsa with disciples, and others come together, and the aged, highly righteous royal sage Śatayūpa also arrives with them.