In the previous episode, we had witnessed Vidura narrating a very interesting story to King Dhritarashtra, to drive home the important point highlighting how life is extremely fickle in this world. We tend to go behind momentary pleasures of life, which is like those honey drops falling from the top of the hanging roots in the banyan tree. We tend to go behind our uncontrollable senses, just like how the animals are chasing the boy in the dense forest. Such is the reality of life, and within this short lifespan, we tend to think that everything in this world that we see around us, is permanent! Sadly, just like how the boy is hanging on with the thin thread of the banyan root, we are also hanging on such a thread, wherein several forms of dangers like desires, anger, etc. are ready to swallow us. However, we do not realize this danger and we happily get carried away by the sweetness of the honey drops! Vidura explains that King Dhritarashtra should move on from just those sweet honey drops and understand that life is greater than those mere momentous joys and sorrows.
In between all this, Vidura says that the real test for this boy in the story is whether he is seeking help from an external source or not. Vidura says thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! This boy, rather than sinking into temporary happiness by tasting the honey drops, should seek external help from someone, so that his life can be secured! He should shout for help and maybe someone in the forest who is in close vicinity can climb over the banyan tree to save him with a rope! If the boy is pulled upwards with the help of the rope, he can escape the wrath of the tiger, elephant, snake, etc. on the ground, which are ready to pounce upon him, isn’t it? Similarly, Oh King Dhritarashtra! From this life, if one person is there to save us with the rope, it is none other than Bhagawan Krishna! He will give us the rope, through which we can escape the entire “Samsaaram” of this world. The pit that I was talking about in this story, is nothing but the “Samsaaram”. If you keep your leg inside the pit, it would keep pulling you further and further inside, isn’t it? Similarly, the “Samsaaram” in this world has the capability to pull you further and further inside it, and make you carried away by its “Maaya”. However, if you’ve to come out of this “Samsaaram”, the only savior can be Bhagawan. You’ve to exhibit surrender (“Sharanaagati”) towards the divine and that would make you come out of this treacherous birth-death cycle and the “Samsaaram” that is associated with it!”
Saying thus, Vidura now slams King Dhritarashtra here. He says angrily thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Whatever I’ve said till now, is not difficult for you to follow! While the entire world is searching for the divine “Anugraha” from Bhagawan Krishna, He is roaming around with all of you freely, claiming that He is your close relative! Even if you are not going near Him, He is coming close to you several times! Will any living being in this world get this golden opportunity? While the rest of the world is yearning for His divine “Darshan” atleast once in their lifetimes, you have Him amidst you in your family, who is ready to go to any extent to help you. However, you are not realizing this! Instead, you are trying to search for playing the blame game after the disaster has unfolded! Oh King Dhritarashtra! How many times did Bhagawan Krishna request you to mend Duryodhana’s ways? Did you listen to Him? How many messengers did He send to your courtroom to make you understand the reality of life? Did you pay heed to any of them? How many times did Bhagawan warn you and Duryodhana? Did you consider any of those warnings and acted accordingly? After all this, if you’ve to say that Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna are responsible for the entire debacle, how unfair would it be upon both of them? Did they wantedly fight this battle against your sons at Kurukshetra? Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please remember – It was Duryodhana who called them for a war! Yudishtra never wanted to fight this! After all this, if you’ve to keep blaming them for the debacle, you’re only trying to pass the buck without taking any sort of responsibility for whatever has happened!”
Saying thus, Vidura blasts King Dhritarashtra left, right and center! So for today, let us understand this important segment of the conversation and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this further! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 