16 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 1
he got the opportunity by the grace of Duryodhana, and instead of being
sorry at the strong words of insult, he thanked him from within because it
gave him the chance to live alone in a holy place and fully engage in the
devotional service of the Lord. The word gata-vyathah (without being
sorry) is significant here because Vidura was relieved from the tribulations
which trouble every man entangled in material activities. He therefore
thought that there was no need to defend his brother with his bow because
his brother was meant for ruination. Thus he left the palace before
Duryodhana could act. Maya, the supreme energy of the Lord, acted here
both internally and externally.
TEXT 17
a fata: gayaen
TaTearihaye: = Tafa |
TATURRP ANTE
atafgat att acagfa: eel!
sa nirgatah kaurava-punya-labdho
gajahvayat tirtha-padah padani
anvakramat punya-cikirsayorvyam
adhisthito yani sahasra-murtih
sah—he (Vidura); nirgatah—after having quit; kawrava—the Kuru dynas-
ty; punya—piety; labdhah—so achieved; gaja-ahvayat—from Hastinapura;
tirtha-padah—of the Supreme Lord; padani— pilgrimages; anvakramat—took
shelter; punya—piety; cikirsaya—desiring so; urvyam—of high grade;
adhisthitah—situated; yani—all those; sahasra—thousands; murtih—forms.
TRANSLATION
By his piety, Vidura achieved the advantages of the pious Kauravas.
After leaving Hastinapura, he took shelter of many places of pilgrimages,
which are the Lord’s lotus feet. With a desire to gain a high order of pious
life, he traveled to holy places where thousands of transcendental forms
of the Lord are situated.
PURPORT
Vidura was undoubtedly a highly elevated and pious soul, otherwise he
would not have taken his birth in the Kaurava family. To have high parent-
age, to possess wealth, to be highly learned and to have great personal
beauty are all due to past pious acts. But such pious possessions are not
