Text 10] Dhrtarastra Quits Home 673

kaya urttya vartitam vas
caradbhih ksiti-mandalam

tirthani ksetra-mukhyani
sevitaniha bhitale

kaya—by which; vrttya—means; vartitam—maintained your livelihood;
vah—your good self; caradbhih—while traveling; ksitimandalam—on the
surface of the earth; tirthani—places of pilgrimage; ksetra-mukhyani—the
principal holy places; sevitani— served by you;iha—in this world; bhittale—
on this planet.

TRANSLATION

While traveling on the surface of the earth, how did you maintain
your livelihood? At which holy places and pilgrimages did you render
service?

PURPORT

Vidura went out from the palace to detach himself from household
affairs, especially political intrigues. As referred to hereinbefore, he was
practically insulted by Duryodhana’s calling him a son of a sidrani,
although it was not out of place to talk loosely in the case of one’s
grandmother. Vidura’s mother, although a Ssidrani, was the grandmother of
Duryodhana, and funny talks are sometimes allowed between grandmother
and grandchildren. But because the remark was an actual fact, it was
unpalatable talk for Vidura, and it was accepted as a direct insult. He
therefore decided to quit his paternal house and prepare for the renounced
order of life. This preparatory stage is called vanaprastha-asrama, or
retired life for traveling and visiting the holy places on the surface of the
earth. In the holy places of India, like Vrndavana, Hardvar, Jagannatha
Purl, Prayaga, etc., there are many great devotees, and there are still free
kitchen houses for persons who desire to advance spiritually. Maharaja
Yudhisthira was inquisitive to learn whether Vidura maintained himself
by the mercy of the free kitchen houses (chhatras).

TEXT 10

wate anareihiga: at iT |
aAtitedta dat areata TerIA 112 oll
