Shloka 19

Vyāsa’s Inquiry into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Tapas and the Identification of Vidura with Dharma

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनप्रभूतयो दृष्टा लोकान्तरं गता: । व्यासस्य तपसो वीर्याद्‌ भवतश्न समागमात्‌

Transliteration

duryodhana-prabhūtayo dṛṣṭā lokāntaraṃ gatāḥ | vyāsasya tapaso vīryād bhavataś ca samāgamāt ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“都利约陀那及其余诸人——那些已往他界者——已得显见。凭借毗耶娑苦行之威力，又因你亲临与我相会，我得以瞻见居于彼世的诸子。故我继续存世之目的已然圆满。噫，无垢者！今我将投身严厉苦行；愿你准许于我。”

Word by Word

• {'duryodhana-prabhūtayaḥ': 'Duryodhana and the rest

• those headed by Duryodhana', 'dṛṣṭāḥ': 'seen

• beheld', 'lokāntaram': 'the other world

• the next realm (after death)', 'gatāḥ': 'gone

• departed', 'vyāsasya': 'of Vyāsa', 'tapasaḥ': 'of austerity

• ascetic practice', 'vīryāt': 'from the power/efficacy', 'bhavataḥ': 'of you (honorific)

• your', 'ca': 'and', 'samāgamāt': 'from meeting/coming together

• from your arrival/association', 'anagha': 'O sinless/blameless one (term of address)', 'kaṭhoram': 'severe

• rigorous', 'tapas(y)ām': 'in austerity

• in ascetic discipline', 'saṃlagnaḥ': 'engaged

• devoted', 'anumati': 'permission

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Duryodhana
• Vyāsa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how spiritual power (tapas) and sacred mediation can grant closure even after immense loss, and how that closure can turn one toward renunciation and disciplined austerity rather than continued attachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a divinely enabled vision of the departed—Duryodhana and others—made possible through Vyāsa’s ascetic potency and the addressee’s presence, the grieving elder declares his worldly purpose fulfilled and asks permission to undertake severe austerities.