In the previous episode, we had witnessed Vidura’s important accord on how life is all about creation and destruction. He makes these remarks to King Dhritarashtra, who is currently brooding over the loss of his hundred sons including Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra war. King Dhritarashtra squarely tries to put the blame on Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna for the entire disaster, and little does he understand that this fiasco was solely because he has been completely indecisive over dealing with Duryodhana all these years. Sanjaya tries his best to explain this point, and now Vidura is chipping in with his narratives. Currently we’re at a point where Vidura is explaining several hard-hitting facts of this world – Birth and death keeps repeating at all times. Whoever takes birth in this world, has to die some day. Whatever is created in this world will definitely face destruction. Some people might face death today, while many others will eventually face it tomorrow or some day down the future. Hence, there is no escape from this cycle, no matter whoever or whatever we are or we might be. Adding on further, Vidura also highlights how fortunate Duryodhana has been – Even though he has been an epitome of several aspects of “Adharma”, he had the golden opportunity of attaining the “Veera-Svargam” – Thanks to the Kurukshetra war. It is widely believed that if a warrior (no matter whether he stands for “Dharma” or “Adharma”) dies while performing his duty towards his territory and people, he will definitely attain “Veera-Gathi”. Vidura highlights that Duryodhana has been fortunate enough to attain this state, else, he would have had to wade through the treacherous “Naraka Lokham”. Hence, Vidura explains that King Dhritarashtra should consider himself to be very fortunate to see his son attaining the “Svarga Lokham” in spite of whatever happened.
Adding further to this point, Vidura continues thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! By brooding over the loss of Duryodhana thus, you are trying to compete with “Kaalam” (Time). There is a time for everything in this world. Please understand – Time is one of the most brutally honest elements in this world. The moment a living being takes birth – Anything and everything might happen around this person, but there is one thing which constantly keeps ticking every moment – This is nothing but “Time”! Bhagawan keeps a count of the time for every living being in this world, and none of us including you and me can escape Bhagawan’s arithmetic with respect to time. The moment we take birth in this world, the clock starts ticking – Second after second, minute after minute, day after day, month after month and year after year pass by! We might think that we’ve accomplished so many things within a short span of time – But Bhagawan ultimately has the last laugh! Once we’re reaching the time of demise, whatever we might be greatly accomplishing comes to a grinding halt! We cannot win over time at any instance! If our destiny is saying that we will live for seventy-five years, we cannot live for the seventy-sixth year! It’s as simple as that! Hence, Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand – Duryodhana’s time has come for him to leave this world, and his end has come through this recently concluded Kurukshetra war. Similarly, everyone will have a reason through which our tenure in this world will come to an end, when the time comes!”
Adding further thus, Vidura explains – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Let me ask you one important question here. Till now, I’ve been telling you several perspectives of life and death. But let me ask you this – Do you know of something which does whatever you do, but doesn’t sleep when you sleep?” As Vidura asks this, it might seem as if it is a riddle! But there’s a very deep sense behind Vidura’s question. As usual – King Dhritarashtra doesn’t understand Vidura’s question and now Vidura rephrases it slightly thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Tell me one thing in this world which eats with you when you consume food, which walks along with you when you walk, which runs along with you when you run, laughs along with you when you laugh, cry along with you when you cry – However – When you fall asleep every night, it stays wide awake, looking at you at all times! What is this thing that I’m talking about?”
So what is this thing that Vidura is talking about here? Along with King Dhritarashtra, let us also ponder over the answer for this tricky question of Vidura’s till the next episode! We shall wait till tomorrow to find out the answer for this! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 