Vidura Approaches Maitreya

Verse 1 (bhagavata.3.4.1)

उद्धव उवाच अथ ते तदनुज्ञाता भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च वारुणीम् । तया विभ्रंशितज्ञाना दुरुक्तैर्मर्म पस्पृशः ॥ 4.1 ॥

uddhava uvāca atha te tad-anujñātā bhuktvā pītvā ca vāruṇīm tayā vibhraṁśita-jñānā duruktair marma paspṛśuḥ

Uddhava said: Thereafter, with the brahmanas' permission, they all partook of the prasada and drank liquor as well; that drink robbed them of their judgment, and they began to wound one another to the very heart with harsh words.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.3.4.2)

तेषां मैरेयदोषेण विषमीकृतचेतसाम् । निम्लोचति रवावासीद्वेणूनामिव मर्दनम् ॥ 4.2 ॥

teṣāṁ maireya-doṣeṇa viṣamīkṛta-cetasām nimlocati ravāv āsīd veṇūnām iva mardanam

Their minds thrown into turmoil by the fault of drink, as the sun set they met the same end as bamboo stalks consumed by the very fire their own friction had kindled.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.3.4.3)

भगवान् स्वात्ममायाया गतिं तामवलोक्य सः । सरस्वतीमुपस्पृश्य वृक्षमूलमुपाविशत् ॥ 4.3 ॥

bhagavān svātma-māyāyā gatiṁ tām avalokya saḥ sarasvatīm upaspṛśya vṛkṣa-mūlam upāviśat

The Lord, having already foreseen this outcome of His own yogamaya, went to the bank of the river Sarasvati, sipped water in the manner of ritual purification, and sat down at the root of a tree.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.3.4.4)

अहं चोक्तो भगवता प्रपन्नार्तिहरेण ह । बदरीं त्वं प्रयाहीति स्वकुलं संजिहीर्षुणा ॥ 4.4 ॥

ahaṁ cokto bhagavatā prapannārti-hareṇa ha badarīṁ tvaṁ prayāhīti sva-kulaṁ sañjihīrṣuṇā

To me too, Bhagavan, the remover of every surrendered soul's distress, had already said, 'Go now to Badarikashrama' — for He, it seems, had resolved to gather in His own family.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.3.4.5)

तथापि तदभिप्रेतं जानन्नहमरिन्दम । पृष्ठतोऽन्वगमं भर्तुः पादविश्लेषणाक्षमः ॥ 4.5 ॥

tathāpi tad-abhipretaṁ jānann aham arindama pṛṣṭhato ’nvagamaṁ bhartuḥ pāda-viśleṣaṇākṣamaḥ

Yet even knowing His intent, O subduer of enemies, I could not part from Him; I followed close behind, for separation from my master's feet was more than I could bear.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.3.4.6)

अद्राक्षमेकमासीनं विचिन्वन् दयितं पतिम् । श्रीनिकेतं सरस्वत्यां कृतकेतमकेतनम् ॥ 4.6 ॥

adrākṣam ekam āsīnaṁ vicinvan dayitaṁ patim śrī-niketaṁ sarasvatyāṁ kṛta-ketam aketanam

Following Him thus, I saw my beloved master, He who is Himself the very shelter of the goddess of fortune, sitting all alone on the bank of the Sarasvati, deep in thought, as though He had no shelter of His own.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.3.4.7)

श्यामावदातं विरजं प्रशान्तारुणलोचनम् । दोर्भिश्चतुर्भिर्विदितं पीतकौशाम्बरेण च ॥ 4.7 ॥

śyāmāvadātaṁ virajaṁ praśāntāruṇa-locanam dorbhiś caturbhir viditaṁ pīta-kauśāmbareṇa ca

By His dark, radiant hue, by His serene, reddish eyes, by His four arms, and by His yellow silken garment, I knew Him at once.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.3.4.8)

वाम ऊरावधिश्रित्य दक्षिणाङ्घ्रि सरोरुहम् । अपाश्रितार्भकाश्वत्थमकृशं त्यक्तपिप्पलम् ॥ 4.8 ॥

vāma ūrāv adhiśritya dakṣiṇāṅghri-saroruham apāśritārbhakāśvattham akṛśaṁ tyakta-pippalam

His right lotus foot resting on His left thigh, leaning against a tender young banyan tree, He appeared full of cheer even though He had left every comfort of home behind.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.3.4.9)

तस्मिन्महाभागवतो द्वैपायनसुहृत्सखा । लोकाननुचरन् सिद्ध आससाद यदृच्छया ॥ 4.9 ॥

tasmin mahā-bhāgavato dvaipāyana-suhṛt-sakhā lokān anucaran siddha āsasāda yadṛcchayā

At that very moment, wandering through the worlds of his own accord, the great devotee Maitreya — friend and well-wisher of Krishna-dvaipayana Vyasa — happened, quite by chance, to arrive at that place.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.3.4.10)

तस्यानुरक्तस्य मुनेर्मुकुन्दः प्रमोदभावानतकन्धरस्य । आशृण्वतो मामनुरागहास- समीक्षया विश्रमयन्नुवाच ॥ 4.10 ॥

tasyānuraktasya muner mukundaḥ pramoda-bhāvānata-kandharasya āśṛṇvato mām anurāga-hāsa- samīkṣayā viśramayann uvāca

Seeing that devoted sage listening with his head bowed in joy, and me listening there too, Mukunda, granting us both rest, spoke to us with an affectionate smile and a tender glance.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.3.4.11)

श्री भगवानुवाच वेदाहमन्तर्मनसीप्सितं ते ददामि यत्तद् दुरवापमन्यैः । सत्रे पुरा विश्वसृजां वसूनां मत्सिद्धिकामेन वसो त्वयेष्टः ॥ 4.11 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca vedāham antar manasīpsitaṁ te dadāmi yat tad duravāpam anyaiḥ satre purā viśva-sṛjāṁ vasūnāṁ mat-siddhi-kāmena vaso tvayeṣṭaḥ

Bhagavan said: O Vasu, I know what you cherished within your mind long ago, in the sacrifice of the world-creating Vasus, when you desired above all to attain Me — a thing very hard for others to reach. That very gift I now give you.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.3.4.12)

स एष साधो चरमो भवाना- मासादितस्ते मदनुग्रहो यत् । यन्मां नृलोकान् रह उत्सृजन्तं दिष्टया ददृश्वान् विशदानुवृत्त्या ॥ 4.12 ॥

sa eṣa sādho caramo bhavānām āsāditas te mad-anugraho yat yan māṁ nṛlokān raha utsṛjantaṁ diṣṭyā dadṛśvān viśadānuvṛttyā

O honest one, of all your lives this is the last, for in this one you have received My supreme grace — through your pure and unwavering devotion, you have been granted, here in this solitary place, the sight of Me as I take leave of the world of men.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.3.4.13)

पुरा मया प्रोक्तमजाय नाभ्ये पद्मे निषण्णाय ममादिसर्गे । ज्ञानं परं मन्महिमावभासं यत्सूरयो भागवतं वदन्ति ॥ 4.13 ॥

purā mayā proktam ajāya nābhye padme niṣaṇṇāya mamādi-sarge jñānaṁ paraṁ man-mahimāvabhāsaṁ yat sūrayo bhāgavataṁ vadanti

In the days of yore, at the very dawn of creation, when Brahma sat upon the lotus that had sprung from My own navel, it was I who spoke to him that supreme knowledge illumining My own glory — the knowledge which the wise call the Bhagavata.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.3.4.14)

इत्यादृतोक्तः परमस्य पुंसः प्रतिक्षणानुग्रहभाजनोऽहम् । स्नेहोत्थरोमा स्खलिताक्षरस्तं मुञ्चञ्छुचः प्राञ्जलिराबभाषे ॥ 4.14 ॥

ity ādṛtoktaḥ paramasya puṁsaḥ pratikṣaṇānugraha-bhājano ’ham snehottha-romā skhalitākṣaras taṁ muñcañ chucaḥ prāñjalir ābabhāṣe

Uddhava said: Thus addressed with such honor by the Supreme Person, and the object of His grace at every moment, my body thrilled with love, my voice faltered, and wiping away my tears I folded my hands and spoke to Him thus.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.3.4.15)

को न्वीश ते पादसरोजभाजां सुदुर्लभोऽर्थेषु चतुर्ष्वपीह । तथापि नाहं प्रवृणोमि भूमन् भवत्पदाम्भोजनिषेवणोत्सुकः ॥ 4.15 ॥

ko nv īśa te pāda-saroja-bhājāṁ sudurlabho ’rtheṣu caturṣv apīha tathāpi nāhaṁ pravṛṇomi bhūman bhavat-padāmbhoja-niṣevaṇotsukaḥ

O Lord, for those devoted to Your lotus feet, none of the four aims of life remain hard to attain; and yet, O great one, I choose none of these — I am eager only for the service of Your own lotus feet.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.3.4.16)

कर्माण्यनीहस्य भवोऽभवस्य ते दुर्गाश्रयोऽथारिभयात्पलायनम् । कालात्मनो यत्प्रमदायुताश्रमः स्वात्मन्रतेः खिद्यति धीर्विदामिह ॥ 4.16 ॥

karmāṇy anīhasya bhavo ’bhavasya te durgāśrayo ’thāri-bhayāt palāyanam kālātmano yat pramadā-yutāśramaḥ svātman-rateḥ khidyati dhīr vidām iha

My Lord, that You act though desireless, take birth though unborn, take shelter in a fort though You fear no enemy, flee though You are the very lord of time, and dwell as a householder surrounded by women though You delight only in Yourself — all this leaves even the wise, learned as they are, bewildered.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.3.4.17)

मन्त्रेषु मां वा उपहूय यत्त्व- मकुण्ठिताखण्डसदात्मबोधः । पृच्छेः प्रभो मुग्ध इवाप्रमत्त- स्तन्नो मनो मोहयतीव देव ॥ 4.17 ॥

mantreṣu māṁ vā upahūya yat tvam akuṇṭhitākhaṇḍa-sadātma-bodhaḥ pṛccheḥ prabho mugdha ivāpramattas tan no mano mohayatīva deva

O Lord, though Your own eternal, unbroken self-knowledge is never wanting, You summoned me for consultation and questioned me as though You Yourself were confused, though You are never so — and this very behavior of Yours, O my Lord, leaves my own mind bewildered.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.3.4.18)

ज्ञानं परं स्वात्मरहःप्रकाशं प्रोवाच कस्मै भगवान् समग्रम् । अपि क्षमं नो ग्रहणाय भर्त- र्वदाञ्जसा यद् वृजिनं तरेम ॥ 4.18 ॥

jñānaṁ paraṁ svātma-rahaḥ-prakāśaṁ provāca kasmai bhagavān samagram api kṣamaṁ no grahaṇāya bhartar vadāñjasā yad vṛjinaṁ tarema

O master, that same supreme knowledge, revealing the deepest mystery of the Self, which You once spoke in full to Brahma — if You judge us fit to receive it, speak it now to us plainly, that we may cross over this ocean of misery.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.3.4.19)

इत्यावेदितहार्दाय मह्यं स भगवान् परः । आदिदेशारविन्दाक्ष आत्मनः परमां स्थितिम् ॥ 4.19 ॥

ity āvedita-hārdāya mahyaṁ sa bhagavān paraḥ ādideśāravindākṣa ātmanaḥ paramāṁ sthitim

Having thus heard the plea offered from the depths of my heart, that supreme and lotus-eyed Lord instructed me in His own transcendental nature.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.3.4.20)

स एवमाराधितपादतीर्था- दधीततत्त्वात्मविबोधमार्गः प्रणम्य पादौ परिवृत्य देव- मिहागतोऽहं विरहातुरात्मा ॥ 4.20 ॥

sa evam ārādhita-pāda-tīrthād adhīta-tattvātma-vibodha-mārgaḥ praṇamya pādau parivṛtya devam ihāgato ’haṁ virahāturātmā

Having thus worshiped at my Lord's own feet and learned from Him the path of self-knowledge, I bowed at His feet, circled Him in reverence, and, my heart heavy with the pain of separation, have come to this place.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.3.4.21)

सोऽहं तद्दर्शनाह्लादवियोगार्तियुतः प्रभो । गमिष्ये दयितं तस्य बदर्याश्रममण्डलम् ॥ 4.21 ॥

so ’haṁ tad-darśanāhlāda- viyogārti-yutaḥ prabho gamiṣye dayitaṁ tasya badaryāśrama-maṇḍalam

So it is, my dear sir, that afflicted still by the pain of parting from that joy of His presence, I shall now go, as He Himself directed, to His own beloved region of Badarikashrama.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.3.4.22)

यत्र नारायणो देवो नरश्च भगवानृषिः । मृदु तीव्रं तपो दीर्घं तेपाते लोकभावनौ ॥ 4.22 ॥

yatra nārāyaṇo devo naraś ca bhagavān ṛṣiḥ mṛdu tīvraṁ tapo dīrghaṁ tepāte loka-bhāvanau

There, in that place where the Lord Himself, in His forms as the sages Nara and Narayana, has from time immemorial performed a long and severe yet gentle penance for the good of every world.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.3.4.23)

श्री शुक उवाच इत्युद्धवादुपाकर्ण्य सुहृदां दुःसहं वधम् । ज्ञानेनाशमयत्क्षत्ता शोकमुत्पतितं बुधः ॥ 4.23 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity uddhavād upākarṇya suhṛdāṁ duḥsahaṁ vadham jñānenāśamayat kṣattā śokam utpatitaṁ budhaḥ

Shri Sukadeva said: Having heard from Uddhava this unbearable account of the destruction of his own kinsmen, the learned Vidura, by the strength of his knowledge, calmed the grief that had risen within him.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.3.4.24)

स तं महाभागवतं व्रजन्तं कौरवर्षभः । विश्रम्भादभ्यधत्तेदं मुख्यं कृष्णपरिग्रहे ॥ 4.24 ॥

sa taṁ mahā-bhāgavataṁ vrajantaṁ kauravarṣabhaḥ viśrambhād abhyadhattedaṁ mukhyaṁ kṛṣṇa-parigrahe

As that great devotee Uddhava was about to depart, Vidura, foremost of the Kurus, with deep trust and affection put this question to him, the most eminent of all who serve Krishna.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.3.4.25)

विदुर उवाच ज्ञानं परं स्वात्मरहःप्रकाशं यदाह योगेश्वर ईश्वरस्ते । वक्तुं भवान्नोऽर्हति यद्धि विष्णो- र्भृत्याः स्वभृत्यार्थकृतश्चरन्ति ॥ 4.25 ॥

vidura uvāca jñānaṁ paraṁ svātma-rahaḥ-prakāśaṁ yad āha yogeśvara īśvaras te vaktuṁ bhavān no ’rhati yad dhi viṣṇor bhṛtyāḥ sva-bhṛtyārtha-kṛtaś caranti

Vidura said: O master of mystics, it is only fitting that you tell us that supreme knowledge, revealing the mystery of the Self, which the Lord Himself spoke to you — for the servants of Vishnu ever wander about only in the interest of His other servants.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.3.4.26)

उद्धव उवाच ननु ते तत्त्वसंराध्य ऋषिः कौषारवोऽन्तिके । साक्षाद्भगवतादिष्टो मर्त्यलोकं जिहासता ॥ 4.26 ॥

uddhava uvāca nanu te tattva-saṁrādhya ṛṣiḥ kauṣāravo ’ntike sākṣād bhagavatādiṣṭo martya-lokaṁ jihāsatā

Uddhava said: But is not the sage Maitreya, son of Kushara, worshipable for the very knowledge you seek, sitting here close at hand — he whom the Lord Himself directly instructed as He was about to leave this mortal world?

Verse 27 (bhagavata.3.4.27)

श्री शुक उवाच इति सह विदुरेण विश्वमूर्ते- र्गुणकथया सुधयाप्लावितोरुतापः । क्षणमिव पुलिने यमस्वसुस्तां समुषित औपगविर्निशां ततोऽगात् ॥ 4.27 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti saha vidureṇa viśva-mūrter guṇa-kathayā sudhayā plāvitoru-tāpaḥ kṣaṇam iva puline yamasvasus tāṁ samuṣita aupagavir niśāṁ tato ’gāt

Shri Sukadeva said: Thus, having spent that night with Vidura on the bank of the Yamuna, immersed in nectarean talk of the qualities of the Lord of the universe — a night that, despite his great sorrow, passed as though it were but a moment — Uddhava, the son of Aupagava, then went on his way.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.3.4.28)

राजोवाच निधनमुपगतेषु वृष्णिभोजे- ष्वधिरथयूथपयूथपेषु मुख्यः । स तु कथमवशिष्ट उद्धवो यद्धरि- रपि तत्यज आकृतिं त्र्यधीशः ॥ 4.28 ॥

rājovāca nidhanam upagateṣu vṛṣṇi-bhojeṣv adhiratha-yūthapa-yūthapeṣu mukhyaḥ sa tu katham avaśiṣṭa uddhavo yad dharir api tatyaja ākṛtiṁ tryadhīśaḥ

The King asked: When the Vrishnis and Bhojas — even the foremost among their great commanders — had all met their end, and Hari Himself, Lord of the three worlds, had also given up His form, how did Uddhava alone remain?

Verse 29 (bhagavata.3.4.29)

श्री शुक उवाच ब्रह्मशापापदेशेन कालेनामोघवाञ्छितः । संहृत्य स्वकुलं स्फीतं त्यक्ष्यन्देहमचिन्तयत् ॥ 4.29 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca brahma-śāpāpadeśena kālenāmogha-vāñchitaḥ saṁhṛtya sva-kulaṁ sphītaṁ tyakṣyan deham acintayat

Shri Sukadeva said: The brahmanas' curse was but a pretext; the true cause was the unfailing will of eternal time itself, working through Him. Having thus gathered in His own vast family, and now intent on giving up this body, the Lord began to think as follows.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.3.4.30)

अस्माल्लोकादुपरते मयि ज्ञानं मदाश्रयम् । अर्हत्युद्धव एवाद्धा सम्प्रत्यात्मवतां वरः ॥ 4.30 ॥

asmāl lokād uparate mayi jñānaṁ mad-āśrayam arhaty uddhava evāddhā sampraty ātmavatāṁ varaḥ

Now that I am about to depart from this world, the only one among all My devotees fit to receive directly the knowledge concerning Myself is Uddhava, foremost of self-realized souls.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.3.4.31)

नोद्धवोऽण्वपि मन्न्यूनो यद्गुणैर्नार्दितः प्रभुः । अतो मद्वयुनं लोकं ग्राहयन्निह तिष्ठतु ॥ 4.31 ॥

noddhavo ’ṇv api man-nyūno yad guṇair nārditaḥ prabhuḥ ato mad-vayunaṁ lokaṁ grāhayann iha tiṣṭhatu

Uddhava is not in the least inferior to Me, for he, like a true master, is never touched by the modes of material nature. Let him, then, remain in this world and impart My own knowledge to it.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.3.4.32)

एवं त्रिलोकगुरुणा सन्दिष्टः शब्दयोनिना । बदर्याश्रममासाद्य हरिमीजे समाधिना ॥ 4.32 ॥

evaṁ tri-loka-guruṇā sandiṣṭaḥ śabda-yoninā badaryāśramam āsādya harim īje samādhinā

Instructed thus by the Lord, the source of all Vedic sound and the very guru of the three worlds, Uddhava made his way to Badarikashrama and there, in deep trance, worshiped Hari.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.3.4.33)

विदुरोऽप्युद्धवाच्छ्रुत्वा कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः । क्रीडयोपात्तदेहस्य कर्माणि श्लाघितानि च ॥ 4.33 ॥

viduro ’py uddhavāc chrutvā kṛṣṇasya paramātmanaḥ krīḍayopātta-dehasya karmāṇi ślāghitāni ca

Vidura too, hearing all this from Uddhava, thus came to know of the glorious acts of Bhagavan Krishna, the Supreme Soul, performed through the body He assumed for the sake of His pastimes.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.3.4.34)

देहन्यासं च तस्यैवं धीराणां धैर्यवर्धनम् । अन्येषां दुष्करतरं पशूनां विक्लवात्मनाम् ॥ 4.34 ॥

deha-nyāsaṁ ca tasyaivaṁ dhīrāṇāṁ dhairya-vardhanam anyeṣāṁ duṣkarataraṁ paśūnāṁ viklavātmanām

He heard, too, of how the Lord had laid aside that body — a matter that only strengthens the fortitude of the steadfast, while for others, unsettled in mind and little better than beasts, it remains all but impossible to grasp.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.3.4.35)

आत्मानं च कुरुश्रेष्ठ कृष्णेन मनसेक्षितम् । ध्यायन् गते भागवते रुरोद प्रेमविह्वलः ॥ 4.35 ॥

ātmānaṁ ca kuru-śreṣṭha kṛṣṇena manasekṣitam dhyāyan gate bhāgavate ruroda prema-vihvalaḥ

O best of the Kurus, understanding that Krishna Himself had held him in mind, Vidura, dwelling on this very thought after that great devotee Uddhava had gone, wept aloud, overcome by the ecstasy of love.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.3.4.36)

कालिन्द्याः कतिभिः सिद्ध अहोभिर्भरतर्षभ । प्रापद्यत स्वःसरितं यत्र मित्रासुतो मुनिः ॥ 4.36 ॥

kālindyāḥ katibhiḥ siddha ahobhir bharatarṣabha prāpadyata svaḥ-saritaṁ yatra mitrā-suto muniḥ

O best of the Bharatas, after passing a few days on the bank of the Kalindi, that perfected soul reached the bank of the celestial Ganga, where the sage Maitreya, son of Mitra, was seated.