SECTION XLI
(Sanat-sujata Parva)
"Dhritarashtra said, 'If there is anything still left unsaid by thee, O
Vidura, say it then, as I am ready to listen to thee. The discourse is,
indeed, charming.'
"Vidura. said, 'O Dhritarashtra, O you of the Bharata race, that ancient
and immortal Rishi Sanat-sujata who, leading a life perpetual celibacy,
hath said that there is no Death,--that foremost of all intelligent
persons,--will expound to you all the doubts, in your mind, both
expressed and unexpressed.'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Dost you not know what that immortal Rishi will
say unto me? O Vidura, do you say it, if indeed, you hast that degree
of wisdom.'
"Vidura said, 'I am born in the Sudra order and, therefore, do not
venture to say more than what I have already said. The understanding,
however, of that Rishi leading a life of celibacy, is regarded by me to
be infinite. He that is a Brahmana by birth, by discoursing on even the
profoundest mysteries, never incureth the censure of the gods. It is for
this alone that I do not discourse to thee, upon the subject.'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Tell me, O Vidura, how with this body of mine I can
meet with that ancient and immortal one?'
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Vidura began to think of that Rishi of rigid
vows. And knowing that he was thought of, the Rishi, O Bharata, showed
himself there. Vidura then received him with the rites prescribed by
ordinance. And when, having rested a while, the Rishi was seated at his
ease, Vidura addressed him, saying, 'O illustrious one, there is a doubt
in Dhritarashtra's mind which is incapable of being explained away by me.
It behoveth thee, therefore, to expound it, so that listening to thy
discourse, this chief of men may tide over all this sorrows, and to that
gain and loss, what is agreeable and what disagreeable, decrepitude and
death, fright and jealously, hunger and thirst, pride and prosperity,
dislike, sleep, lust and wrath, and decrease and increase may all be
borne by him!'"
--------------------END OF PARVA 5 : UPA-PARVA 41 ---------------------
