Text 18] Dhrtarastra Quits Home 683

eternal, he can be happy only in the eternal abode of the kingdom of God
(Paravyoma) from which no one returns to this region of repeated birth
and death, disease and old age. Therefore, any comforts of life or any
material happiness, which does not warrant an eternal life, are but illusion
for the eternal living being. One who understands this factually is learned,
and such a learned person can sacrifice any amount of material happiness
to achieve the desired goal known as brahma-sukham or absolute happi-
ness. Real transcendentalists are hungry for this happiness, and as a hungry
man cannot be made happy by all comforts of life minus foodstuff, so the
hungry man for eternal absolute happiness cannot be satisfied by any
amount of material happiness. Therefore, the instruction described in this
verse cannot be applied to Maharaja Yudhisthira or his brothers and
mother. It was meant for persons like Dhrtarastra, for whom Vidura came
especially to impart lessons.

TEXT 18

fagraq tea TAUEAATT |
aafarerat ati gerd wTATTATZ UCI

viduras tad abhipretya
dhytarastram abhasata

rajan nirgamyatam sighram
pasyedarm bhayam agatam

vidurah— Mahatma Vidura; tat—that; abhipretya—knowing it well;
dhrtarastram—unto _Dhrtarastra; abhdsata—said; rajan—O King;
nirgamyatam—please get out immediately; sighram—without the least
delay; pasya—just see; idam—this; bhayam—fearfulness; dgatam—already
arrived.

TRANSLATION

Mahatma Vidura knew all this, and therefore he addressed Dhrtarastra,
saying: My dear King, please get out of here immediately. Do not delay.
Just see how fear has overtaken you.

PURPORT

Cruel death cares for none, be he Dhrtarastra or even Maharaja
Yudhisthira; therefore spiritual instruction, as was given to old Dhrtarastra,
was equally applicable to younger Maharaja Yudhisthira. As a matter of
fact, everyone in the royal palace including the King and his brothers and
