Shloka 28
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
विदुरस्य शरीरं तु तथैव स्तब्धलोचनम् | वृक्षाश्रितं तदा राजा ददर्श गतचेतनम्
vidurasya śarīraṃ tu tathaiva stabdhalocanam | vṛkṣāśritaṃ tadā rājā dadarśa gatacetanam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Lalu raja melihat jasad Vidura bersandar pada sebatang pokok—matanya masih terpaku dan tidak berkelip seperti dahulu, namun kesedaran hayat telah pun berangkat. Pemandangan itu menegaskan kemuncak pertapaan dalam jalan pelepasan: tubuh dipelihara dalam keheningan, tetapi diri sejati tidak lagi terikat padanya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights vairāgya (detachment): the body may remain outwardly composed, but true release is the departure of consciousness from bodily identification. It points to the ethical ideal of renunciation after fulfilling worldly duties—accepting impermanence without clinging.
In the forest setting of the Āśramavāsika episode, the king comes upon Vidura and sees him standing/leaning against a tree with a fixed gaze. Although the posture appears unchanged, Vidura’s consciousness has departed—indicating his passing in an ascetic manner.