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Pancharatra: Dhritarashtra asks Vidura to return and reconciles with Vidura.
Vaiśampāyana said.
O king, after Vidura had gone to the hermitage to see the Pāṇḍavas, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the greatly wise, was tormented, O descendant of Bharata. (3-7-1)
Vidura, having reached the assembly door and overcome by memories, fell down with his mind possessed, in the presence of the kings. (3-7-2)
But having regained consciousness and risen from the ground, the king, seeing Sanjaya standing nearby, spoke these words to him. (3-7-3)
My brother, who is also my friend and truly like another embodiment of righteousness; remembering him today, my heart feels as if it is being torn apart. (3-7-4)
Saying thus, "Bring my brother, the knower of dharma, quickly indeed," the king lamented piteously. (3-7-5)
O king, tormented by remorse and weakened by the memory of Vidura, out of brotherly affection, he spoke these words to Sañjaya. (3-7-6)
Go, Sañjaya, find out whether my brother Vidura, whom I drove away in anger and sin, is still alive. (3-7-7)
Indeed, my brother, who is wise and of immeasurable intellect, has never done even the slightest wrong to me before. (3-7-8)
He, being supremely wise, how has he committed wrongdoing against me? The wise one should not give up his life; go and bring him, Sanjaya. (3-7-9)
After hearing those words, and having received the king's assent, Sañjaya replied 'indeed' and set out for the Kāmyaka forest. (3-7-10)
He soon reached the forest where the Pāṇḍavas were, and there he saw Yudhiṣṭhira clad in ruru-deer skin. (3-7-11)
He was seated with Vidura, surrounded by thousands of Brāhmaṇas and his brothers, protected like Indra by the gods. (3-7-12)
Then Sanjaya approached Yudhishthira and paid him homage. Bhima, Arjuna, and the other brothers of Yudhishthira also accepted the honour due to them. (3-7-13)
When the king asked, Sañjaya, who was comfortably seated and well, reported the reason for the arrival and spoke these words. (3-7-14)
The king remembers you, O minister; Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika. Go and see him quickly, and revive the king. (3-7-15)
After taking leave of the foremost of men, the Pāṇḍavas, the delight of the Kurus, you should go by the command of the lion among kings, O bestower of honor. (3-7-16)
Thus, when spoken to in this way, the wise and affectionate Vidura, with Yudhiṣṭhira's consent, returned again to Hastinapura. (3-7-17)
Dhritarashtra, the illustrious king, addressed the wise one: 'It is by good fortune that you have come, O knower of dharma; it is by good fortune that you remember me, O sinless one.' (3-7-18)
O best of the Bharatas, today, both at night and by day, I remain awake for your sake and see my own body in a strange way. (3-7-19)
He took Vidura onto his lap, smelled his head, and said, "Let it be forgiven," referring to what he had spoken to Vidura in anger. (3-7-20)
Vidura said.
O king, I have indeed forgiven; you are our supreme preceptor. Therefore, I have come quickly, devoted to seeing you. (3-7-21)
O king, truly, among men whose minds are set on dharma, there are those who attack the distressed; in such cases, an investigation should be conducted. (3-7-22)
The sons of Pāṇḍu are like my own sons, just as your sons are. Today, my mind feels compassion for them.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, after embracing each other, the two illustrious brothers, Vidura and Dhritarashtra, experienced the highest happiness. (3-7-24)
