Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 8
Vidura’s Questions: How the Unchangeable Lord Relates to Māyā; Bhakti as the Remedy; Blueprint for the Coming Cosmology
श्रीशुक उवाच स इत्थं चोदित: क्षत्त्रा तत्त्वजिज्ञासुना मुनि: । प्रत्याह भगवच्चित्त: स्मयन्निव गतस्मय: ॥ ८ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca sa itthaṁ coditaḥ kṣattrā tattva-jijñāsunā muniḥ pratyāha bhagavac-cittaḥ smayann iva gata-smayaḥ
圣者舒迦提婆·高斯瓦弥说：大王啊，被求真若渴的毗度罗如此发问时，圣贤弥勒耶起初似乎惊讶；但因其心常住于薄伽梵，便毫不迟疑地作答。
Since the great sage Maitreya was filled with God consciousness, he had no reason to be astonished at such contradictory questions by Vidura. Therefore, although as a devotee he externally expressed surprise, as if he did not know how to reply to those questions, he immediately became perfectly settled and properly replied to Vidura. Yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati ( Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.3). Anyone who is a devotee of the Lord knows about the Lord to some extent, and devotional service to the Lord makes him able to know everything by the grace of the Lord. Although a devotee may apparently express himself to be ignorant, he is full of knowledge in every intricate matter.
FAQs
This verse highlights Vidura as a tattva-jijñāsu—one who sincerely seeks the truth—showing that genuine spiritual progress begins with humble, earnest inquiry.
Vidura’s questions were sincere and truth-centered, so the sage—absorbed in Bhagavān—responded, indicating that authentic inquiry draws forth authentic instruction.
Seek knowledge without ego: ask honest questions, listen carefully, and let spiritual understanding deepen while staying free from pride—even when you know something.