INCORNATION OF YAMADHARMA : VIDURA

The birth of Vidura, cousin brother of Pandu and Dhritharashtra, is an interesting story.  The Sage Mandavya was ritious and truthful.  He performed severe religious pennons under a tree in front of his hermitage.  He spent years in deep meditation.  One day misfortune visited him.  A band of robbers who were chased by king’s men came to the sage’s hermitage and hid their stolen goods in the hermitage and hid themselves behind the nearby bushes.  King’s men saw the sage who was in deep meditation.  King’s men did not get a suitable reply from the sage.  They entered the hermitage and found the stolen goods.  They also caught the robbers.  After executing the robbers, king’s men crucified the sage and left the place.

The sage did not die because of his yogic power.  He wanted to know why he was punished like this even though he had not committed any mistake.  He went to Yamadharma and questioned him.  But the reply did not satisfy the sage.  The sage cursed him and said.  “Yamaraja, you will born as a son of a servant maid”.  This is how Vidura was born. 

Kuru king Vichitraveerya died without having sons.  Queen mother Sathyavathi begged Vedavyasa to bless the widowed queens of Vichitraveerya.  Queen Ambalika was frightened when she saw the brightness of the sage.  She closed her eyes.  Thus Dhritharashtra was born blind.  The second queen too returned pale when she saw the sage.  That is how Pandu was born very pale.  Queen mother asked the second queen Ambika to serve the sage again.  But Ambika sent her maid servant in her place and Vidura was born.  Vidura is the incarnation of Yamadharma.    He mastered Dhrmashastra, Artha shastra and spiritual knowledge. Vidura became famous as Mahatma Vidura.

Prince Pandu became an adept in Archery.  Blind Dhritharashtra was supreme in his physical strength.  Vidura was riteous.  Pandu married Kunti, Dhritharashtra married Gandhari.  Pandu’s sons became famous as Pandavas and Dhritharashtra’s sons were known as kauravas.  When Panndu died, Dhritharashtra divided the kingdom into 2 parts.  Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritharashtra retained Hastinnapura.  Pandavas built their own capital Indraprastha.  The rivelry between them grew.  Duryodhana was very jelous of his cousins Pandavas.  He wanted to destroy them.  Vidura’s advise went unheaded.

Duryodhana beat Dharmaraya in the crucked game of dice.  When Pandavas returned from excile from forest for 12 years and one year of Agnathavasa as per agreement of the game of dice, Duryodhana refued to hand back the kingdom of Pandavas.  Vidura’s advise had no effect on Dhritharashtra.  Kurukshethra war became inevitable.  “Let things happen according to god’s wish” said Vidura.  Kauravas were defeated and were killed in the Kurukshethra war. 

Dharmaraya visited Vidura who was in deep tapas, counting his last days of life.  n Vidura opened his eyes and looked fixedly at Dharmaraya and passed away.  Vidura’s soul left his body and became one with Dharmaraja’s.