The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,582 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,582 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4.
at a distance.  He had matted locks on his head, and gravels in his mouth, and was exceedingly emaciated.  He was perfectly naked.  His body was besmeared all over with filth, and with the dust of various wild flowers.  When Kshattri was beheld from a distance, the fact was reported to Yudhishthira.  Vidura suddenly stopped, O king, casting his eyes towards the retreat (and seeing it peopled by so many individuals).  King Yudhishthira pursued him alone, as he ran and entered the deep forest, sometimes not seen by the pursuer.  He said aloud, ’O Vidura, O Vidura, I am king Yudhishthira, thy favourite!’—­Exclaiming thus, Yudhishthira, with great exertion, followed Vidura.  That foremost of intelligent men, viz., Vidura, having reached a solitary spot in the forest, stood still, leaning against a tree.  He was exceedingly emaciated.  He retained only the shape of a human being (all his characteristic features having totally disappeared).  Yudhishthira of great intelligence recognised him, however, (in spite of such change).  Standing before him, Yudhishthira addressed him, saying, ’I am Yudhishthira!’ Indeed, worshipping Vidura properly, Yudhishthira said these words in the hearing of Vidura.  Meanwhile Vidura eyed the king with a steadfast gaze.  Casting his gaze thus on the king, he stood motionless in Yoga.  Possessed of great intelligence, he then (by his Yoga-power) entered the body of Yudhishthira, limb by limb.  He united his life-breaths with the king’s life-breaths, and his senses with the king’s senses.  Verify, with the aid of Yoga-power, Vidura, blazing with energy, thus entered the body of king Yudhishthira the just.  Meanwhile, the body of Vidura continued to lean against the tree, with eyes fixed in a steadfast gaze.  The king soon saw that life had fled out of it.  At the same time, he felt that he himself had become stronger than before and that he had acquired many additional virtues and accomplishments.  Possessed of great learning and energy, O monarch, Pandu’s son, king Yudhishthira the just, then recollected his own state before his birth among men.[42] Endued with mighty energy, he had heard of Yoga practice from Vyasa.  King Yudhishthira the just, possessed of great learning, became desirous of doing the last rites to the body of Vidura, and wished to cremate it duly.  An invisible voice was then heard,—­saying,—­’O king, this body that belonged to him called Vidura should not be cremated.  In him is thy body also.  He is the eternal deity of Righteousness.  Those regions of felicity which are known by the name of Santanika will be his, O Bharata.  He was an observer of the duties of Yatis.  Thou shouldst not, O scorcher of foes, grieve for him at all.  Thus addressed, king Yudhishthira the just, returned from that spot, and represented everything unto the royal son of Vichitraviryya.  At this, that king of great splendour, all these men, and Bhimasena and others, became filled with wonder.  Hearing what had happened, king Dhritarashtra became pleased and then, addressing
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.