FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.10.49-50

क्षत्तु: कौशारवेस्तस्य संवादोऽध्यात्मसंश्रित: । यद्वा स भगवांस्तस्मै पृष्टस्तत्त्वमुवाच ह ॥ ४९ ॥ ब्रूहि नस्तदिदं सौम्य विदुरस्य विचेष्टितम् । बन्धुत्यागनिमित्तं च यथैवागतवान् पुन: ॥ ५० ॥
kṣattuḥ kauśāraves tasya
[kshattuh kaushaaraves tasya]
saṁvādo ’dhyātma-saṁśritaḥ
[samvaado ’dhyaatma-samshritah]
yad vā sa bhagavāṁs tasmai
[yad vaa sa bhagavaams tasmai]
pṛṣṭas tattvam uvāca ha
[prishtas tattvam uvaacha ha]
brūhi nas tad idaṁ saumya
[broohi nas tad idam saumya]
vidurasya viceṣṭitam
[vidurasya vicheshtitam]
bandhu-tyāga-nimittaṁ ca
[bandhu-tyaaga-nimittam cha]
yathaivāgatavān punaḥ
[yathaivaagatavaan punah]
kṣattuḥ — of Vidura kauśāraveḥ — as that of Maitreya tasya — their saṁvādaḥ — news adhyātma — in the matter of transcendental knowledge saṁśritaḥ — full of yat — which vā — anything else saḥ — he bhagavān — His Grace tasmai — unto him pṛṣṭaḥ — inquired tattvam — the truth uvāca — answered ha — in the past brūhi — please tell naḥ — unto us tat — those matters idam — here saumya — O gentle one vidurasya — of Vidura viceṣṭitam — activities bandhu-tyāga — renouncing the friends nimittam — the cause of ca — also yathā — as eva — also āgatavān — came back punaḥ — again (at home).
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kṣattuḥ kauśāraves tasya
kṣattuḥ
of Vidura
kauśāraveḥ
as that of Maitreya
tasya
their
saṁvādo ’dhyātma-saṁśritaḥ
saṁvādaḥ
news
yad vā sa bhagavāṁs tasmai
adhyātma
in the matter of transcendental knowledge
saṁśritaḥ
full of
pṛṣṭas tattvam uvāca ha
brūhi nas tad idaṁ saumya
yat
which
vidurasya viceṣṭitam
bandhu-tyāga-nimittaṁ ca
yathaivāgatavān punaḥ
vā
anything else
saḥ
he
bhagavān
His Grace
tasmai
unto him
pṛṣṭaḥ
inquired
tattvam
the truth
uvāca
answered
ha
in the past
brūhi
please tell
naḥ
unto us
tat
those matters
idam
here
saumya
O gentle one
vidurasya
of Vidura
viceṣṭitam
activities
bandhu-tyāga
renouncing the friends
nimittam
the cause of
ca
also
yathā
as
eva
also
āgatavān
came back
punaḥ
again (at home).
Śaunaka Ṛṣi said: Let us know, please, what topics were discussed between Vidura and Maitreya, who talked on transcendental subjects, and what was inquired by Vidura and replied by Maitreya. Also please let us know the reason for Vidura’s giving up the connection of his family members, and why he again came home. Please also let us know the activities of Vidura while he was in the places of pilgrimage.

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī was narrating the topics of the creation and destruction of the material world, but it appears that the ṛṣis headed by Śaunaka were more inclined to hear of transcendental subjects, which are on a higher level than the physical. There are two classes of men, namely those too addicted to the gross body and the material world, and others, on the higher level, who are interested more in transcendental knowledge. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives facility to everyone, both to the materialist and to the transcendentalist. By hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the matter of the Lord’s glorious activities both in the material world and in the transcendental world, men can derive equal benefit. The materialists are more interested in the physical laws and how they are acting, and they see wonders in those physical glamors. Sometimes, due to physical glamors, they forget the glories of the Lord. They should know definitely that physical activities and their wonders are all initiated by the Lord. The rose in the garden gradually takes its shape and color to become beautiful and sweet not by a blind physical law, although it appears like that. Behind that physical law is the direction of the complete consciousness of the Supreme Lord; otherwise things cannot take shape so systematically. The artist draws a picture of a rose very nicely with all attention and artistic sense, and yet it does not become as perfect as the real rose. If that is the real fact, how can we say that the real rose has taken its shape without intelligence behind the beauty? This sort of conclusion is due to a poor fund of knowledge. One must know from the above description of creation and annihilation that the supreme consciousness, being omnipresent, can take care of everything with perfect attention. That is the fact of the omnipresence of the Supreme Lord. Persons, still more foolish than the gross materialists, however, claim to be transcendentalists and claim to have such supreme all-pervading consciousness, but offer no proof. Such foolish persons cannot know what is going on behind the next wall, yet they are falsely proud of possessing the cosmic, all-pervading consciousness of the Supreme Person. For them also, hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is a great help. It will open their eyes to see that simply by claiming supreme consciousness one does not become supremely conscious. One has to prove in the physical world that he has such supreme consciousness. The ṛṣis of Naimiṣāraṇya, however, were above the gross materialists and the false transcendentalists, and thus they were always anxious to know the real truth in transcendental matters, as discussed by authorities.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śaunaka said: O Sūta! You have told us that Vidura, the best of devotees went on pilgrimage around the world, giving up friends who are difficult to give up. Discussion of the soul took place between Vidura and Maitreya. Knowledgeable Maitreya, implored by Vidura explained the highest truth. O excellent sage! Please tell us all of that and the actions of Vidura.
Commentary

Being eager to hear other topics, the proposed topic of the Pādma-kalpa gets delayed by the question of Śaunaka. You have told us:

viduras tīrtha-yātrāyāṁ maitreyād ātmano gatim jñātvāgād dhāstinapuraṁ tayāvāpta-vivitsitaḥ

Having learned about Kṛṣṇa, the goal of the jīva, from Maitreya while on pilgrimage, Vidura came to Hastināpura with a desire to teach that. SB 1.13.1

Bhagavān means he who is full of knowledge. Kṣattā means Vidura. Kauśāraveḥ refers to Maitreya.

Related verses
The sages want to know: what did Vidura and Maitreya discuss, why did Vidura leave his family, and what did he do at the pilgrimage places? Two classes of audience exist — gross-body addicted and transcendentally hungry. The Bhāgavatam feeds both.
Reflection Questions
  • Which class of audience am I most days, and how do I shift up?
  • What 'pilgrimage' is mine, and am I actually going to it?
📝 My note

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