FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.59

विदुरस्तु तदाश्चर्यं निशाम्य कुरुनन्दन । हर्षशोकयुतस्तस्माद् गन्ता तीर्थनिषेवक: ॥ ५९ ॥
viduras tu tad āścaryaṁ
[viduras tu tad aashcharyam]
niśāmya kuru-nandana
[nishaamya kuru-nandana]
harṣa-śoka-yutas tasmād
[harsha-shoka-yutas tasmaad]
gantā tīrtha-niṣevakaḥ
[gantaa teertha-nishevakah]
viduraḥ — Vidura also tu — but tat — that incident āścaryam — wonderful niśāmya — seeing kuru-nandana — O son of the Kuru dynasty harṣa — delight śoka — grief yutaḥ — affected by tasmāt — from that place gantā — will go away tīrtha — place of pilgrimage niṣevakaḥ — for being enlivened.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
viduras tu tad āścaryaṁ
viduraḥ
Vidura also
tu
but
tat
that incident
āścaryam
wonderful
niśāmya kuru-nandana
niśāmya
seeing
kuru-nandana
O son of the Kuru dynasty
harṣa-śoka-yutas tasmād
harṣa
delight
śoka
grief
yutaḥ
affected by
tasmāt
from that place
gantā tīrtha-niṣevakaḥ
gantā
will go away
tīrtha
place of pilgrimage
niṣevakaḥ
for being enlivened.
Vidura, being affected with delight and grief, will then leave that place of sacred pilgrimage.

Vidura was astonished to see the marvelous departure of his brother Dhṛtarāṣṭra as a liberated yogī, for in his past life he was much attached to materialism. Of course it was only due to Vidura that his brother attained the desirable goal of life. Vidura was therefore glad to learn about it. But he was sorry that he could not make his brother turn into a pure devotee. This was not done by Vidura because of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s being inimical to the Pāṇḍavas, who were all devotees of the Lord. An offense at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava is more dangerous than an offense at the lotus feet of the Lord. Vidura was certainly very liberal to bestow mercy upon his brother Dhṛtarāṣṭra, whose past life was very materialistic. But ultimately the result of such mercy certainly depended on the will of the Supreme Lord in the present life; therefore Dhṛtarāṣṭra attained liberation only, and after many such liberated states of life one can attain to the stage of devotional service. Vidura was certainly very mortified by the death of his brother and sister-in-law, and the only remedy to mitigate such lamentation was to go out to pilgrimage. Thus Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira had no chance to call back Vidura, his surviving uncle.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O joy of the Kurus! Seeing this astonishing event, Vidura, with joy and lamentation, will depart to visit holy places.
Commentary

“I will go and bring Vidura back.” No, that is not possible. Seeing this astonishing event, he will depart for holy places. Vidura will be joyful, since Dhṛtarāṣṭra has attained a spiritual goal. He will lament as a worldly custom. He will then go from that place to serve holy places. It should be understood that Dhṛtarāṣṭra being an offender to devotees, attained only liberation and not prema, since Vidura did not give such mercy.

Vidura, affected with delight and grief, will leave that pilgrimage place. Witnessing a holy death changes the witness. Holy grief and holy joy can coexist.
Reflection Questions
  • When did delight and grief mix in me — and what did that teach?
  • Where am I separating them when they belong together?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 13