Chapter 41

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘If there is anything still left unsaid by thee, OVidura, say it then, as I am ready to listen to thee. The discourse is,indeed, charming.’

“Vidura. said, ‘O Dhritarashtra, O thou of the Bharata race, that ancientand immortal Rishi Sanat-sujata who, leading a life perpetual celibacy,hath said that there is no Death,–that foremost of all intelligentpersons,–will expound to thee all the doubts, in thy mind, bothexpressed and unexpressed.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Dost thou not know what that immortal Rishi willsay unto me? O Vidura, do thou say it, if indeed, thou hast that degreeof wisdom.’

“Vidura said, ‘I am born in the Sudra order and, therefore, do notventure to say more than what I have already said. The understanding,however, of that Rishi leading a life of celibacy, is regarded by me tobe infinite. He that is a Brahmana by birth, by discoursing on even theprofoundest mysteries, never incureth the censure of the gods. It is forthis alone that I do not discourse to thee, upon the subject.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Tell me, O Vidura, how with this body of mine I canmeet with that ancient and immortal one?’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Vidura began to think of that Rishi of rigidvows. And knowing that he was thought of, the Rishi, O Bharata, showedhimself there. Vidura then received him with the rites prescribed byordinance. And when, having rested a while, the Rishi was seated at hisease, Vidura addressed him, saying, ‘O illustrious one, there is a doubtin Dhritarashtra’s mind which is incapable of being explained away by me.It behoveth thee, therefore, to expound it, so that listening to thydiscourse, this chief of men may tide over all this sorrows, and to thatgain and loss, what is agreeable and what disagreeable, decrepitude anddeath, fright and jealously, hunger and thirst, pride and prosperity,dislike, sleep, lust and wrath, and decrease and increase may all beborne by him!'”