Shloka 32
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
भो भो राजजन्न दग्धव्यमेतद् विदुरसंज्ञकम् । कलेवरमिहैवं ते धर्म एब सनातन:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bho bho rājan na dagdhavyam etad vidura-saṃjñakam | kalevaram ihaivaṃ te dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ ||
毗舍波耶那说道：“大王啊，切莫在此焚化这具名为毗度罗的身体。在此情形之下，对你而言，不焚之举，正是永恒之法的准则。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely a fixed ritual routine; it can require restraint from customary acts when higher religious status or context applies. Here, the instruction frames non-cremation as the ‘sanātana’ (authoritative, enduring) dharma for the king in this specific case, aligning conduct with Vidura’s renunciant standing.
As the king considers performing Vidura’s cremation, an authoritative injunction is voiced (reported by Vaiśampāyana): Vidura’s body should not be burned there. The verse functions as a direct prohibition and a dharma-guideline governing the king’s response to Vidura’s passing.