Vyasa

Aranyaka Parva›Dhritarashtra's Internal Conflict and the Attempt to Restrain Duryodhana

Dhritarashtra Repents and Sends Sanjaya for Vidura

Why "Minor"?

Causal ReachTop 94%
Character WeightTop 94%
State ChangeTop 98%
Narrative RecallTop 50%

~1 min read

Dhritarashtra, having driven Vidura away in a fit of rage, is consumed by grief and collapses unconscious at the memory of his wise brother. When he regains himself, he sends Sanjaya to the Kamyaka forest with a desperate plea — to bring Vidura back before his brother gives up his life.

Vidura had left. He had walked out of Hastinapura and set his face toward the Kamyaka forest, toward the hermitage of the Pandavas. And Dhritarashtra, the blind king, was left alone with what he had done. He had driven Vidura away in anger. Now the anger was gone, and what remained was worse. Vaishampayana said: When Vidura had left, the immensely wise Dhritarashtra repented. He went to the door of the sabha (assembly hall), and there, deluded by his memories of Vidura, he fell down unconscious in the presence of the lords of the earth. The courtiers watched the king of the Kurus crumple to the ground. No one moved. No one spoke. The blind king lay there, his body a heap of grief, until something stirred inside him and he began to rise. When he regained consciousness, he got up from the ground. Sanjaya was with him, and the king told him these words: "My brother and well-wisher is like Dharma himself. On remembering him, my heart is being torn apart. Go quickly and bring my brother to me — one who is knowledgeable about dharma." Uttering these words, the king lamented piteously. He was tormented by repentance and deluded by Vidura's memory. Out of brotherly affection, the king again spoke these words to Sanjaya. "O Sanjaya! My brother Vidura suffered because of my evil wrath. Go and find out if he is still alive. That brother of mine is wise and has infinite intelligence. Never has he practised the slightest falsehood. Why should this supremely intelligent one suffer a wrong from me? O Sanjaya! That wise one should not give up his life. Go find him and bring him back." On hearing the king's words, Sanjaya approved and said that he would act accordingly.

Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 304