678 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 13
TRANSLATION
Thus Mahatma Vidura, being treated just like a godly person by his
kinsmen, remained there for a certain period just to pacify the mentality
of his eldest brother and in this way bring happiness to all the others.
PURPORT
Saintly persons like Vidura must be treated as well as a denizen from
heaven. In those days denizens of heavenly planets used to visit homes like
that of Maharaja Yudhisthira, and sometimes persons like Arjuna and
others used to visit higher planets. Narada is a spaceman who can travel
unrestrictedly, not only within the material universes but also in the
spiritual universes. Even Narada used to visit the palace of Maharaja
Yudhisthira and what to speak of other celestial demigods. It is only
the spiritual culture of the people concerned that makes interplanetary
travel possible, even in the present body. Maharaja Yudhisthira therefore
received Vidura in the manner of a reception offered to the demigods.
Mahatma Vidura had already adopted the renounced order of life, and
therefore he did not return to his paternal palace to enjoy some material
comforts. He accepted out of his own mercy what was offered to him by
Maharaja Yudhisthira, but the purpose of living in the palace was to deliver
his too much materially attached elder brother Dhrtarastra. Dhrtarastra
lost all his state and descendants in the fight with Maharaja Yudhisthira,
and still, due to his sense of helplessness, he did not feel ashamed to accept
the charity and hospitality of Maharaja Yudhisthira. On the part of Maha-
raja Yudhisthira, it was quite in order to maintain his uncle in a befitting
manner, but acceptance of such magnanimous hospitality by Dhrtarastra
was not at all desirable. He accepted it because he thought that there was
no other alternative. Vidura particularly came to enlighten Dhrtarastra
and to give him a lift to the higher status of spiritual cognition. It is the
duty of enlightened souls to deliver the fallen ones, and Vidura came for
that reason. But talks of spiritual enlightenment are so refreshing that
while instructing Dhrtarastra, Vidura attracted the attention of all the
members of the family, and all of them took pleasure in hearing him
patiently. This is the way of spiritual realization. The message should be
heard attentively, and if spoken by a realized soul, it will act on the dor-
mant heart of the conditioned soul. And by continuously hearing, one can
attain the perfect stage of self-realization.
