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 ||
毗舍波耶那说道：于是国王看见毗度罗的躯体倚靠在树旁——双眼仍如往昔般凝定不瞬，然而生命的觉知已然离去。此景昭示出出离之道那严峻的终点：身体仍守于寂然，而真我已不复系缚其上。
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.