Viduraji – A Great Soul
Viduraji, a great soul, was the very incarnation of Dharma. Due to the curse of Rishi Mandavya he had to take birth as a Sudra ( in a low caste family). He was born of the maid servant of King Vichitravirya. Thus he could be reckoned in one way as the real brother of Dhrtarastra and Pandu.
He was very intelligent, virtuous, versed in moral and religious duties and was a scholar and devotee. On account of these qualities he commanded a great respect among people. He was very frank and fearless and offered good advice to Dhrtarastra and others. As it was, he was the minister of Dhrtarastra.
Soon after his birth Duryodhana had started braying. There were many ill omens predicting impending catastrophes. Noting all these things he as well as some other Brahmans said to Dhrtarastra –
” This son of yours shall be the cause of the ruination of your own family. Hence it would be proper to abandon him. If he remains alive you will have to suffer. The scriptures have obtained that for the sake of a family, a person, for the sake of a village, a family, for the sake of the country, a village and for the sake of one’s soul the entire earth should be abandoned”.
But out of infatuation for his son he did not act upon the advice of Viduraji. As a consequence he had to suffer throughout his life on account of Duryodhana and had to see the ruination of his own race during his very life. One who is not mindful of salutary advice of great souls has to suffer misery.
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