Shloka 21
Saṃsāra-mārga-vistaraḥ
Vidura’s Expanded Account of the Path
साधु: परमदु:खानां दुःखभैषज्यमाचरेत् । ज्ञानौषधमवाप्येह दूरपारं महौषधम् | छिन्द्याद् दुः:खमहाव्याधिं नर: संयतमानस:,साधु पुरुषको चाहिये कि वह अपने मनको वशगमें करके ज्ञानरूपी महान् ओषधि प्राप्त करे, जो परम दुर्लभ है। उससे अपने बड़े-से-बड़े दुःखोंकी चिकित्सा करे। उस ज्ञानरूपी ओषधिसे दुःखरूपी महान् व्याधिका नाश कर डाले
sādhuḥ paramaduḥkhānāṃ duḥkhabhaiṣajyam ācaret | jñānauṣadham avāpyeha dūrapāraṃ mahauṣadham | chindyād duḥkhamahāvyādhiṃ naraḥ saṃyatamānasaḥ ||
Orang baik hendaknya menempuh obat sejati bagi duka yang paling dalam. Di dunia ini, setelah memperoleh obat agung berupa pengetahuan—sukar dicapai dan amat langka—dengan batin yang terkendali ia harus menebas penyakit besar bernama penderitaan itu sendiri.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sorrow is treated as a disease, and the most effective remedy is jñāna (clear understanding/wisdom). By restraining the mind and cultivating knowledge, one can cut off even great suffering at its root rather than merely soothing symptoms.
In the Strī Parva’s aftermath of the war, counsel is offered to those overwhelmed by grief. Vidura speaks in a consolatory, ethical register, urging inner discipline and wisdom as the means to endure and overcome the crushing sorrow following the Kurukṣetra devastation.