Soot spoke: Vidura, on a pilgrimage, learned about the destination of Maitreya and, having understood, went to Hastinapura, desiring to meet him.

As long as he had asked questions, the sage Kshatta, with a devoted heart to Govinda, ceased to speak to them.

Seeing his relative arrive, the son of Dharma, along with his brother, Dhritarashtra, eager for battle, and the charioteer, Sharadvata, and Pritha.

Gandhari, Draupadi, Brahman, Subhadra, Uttara, and Kripi, along with other daughters-in-law of Pandu and their children.

They rose with joy as if life had returned to their bodies, embracing each other properly with greetings.

Overcome with love and tears of separation, they released their emotions; the king then offered them a seat with respect.

Seeing him who had eaten, rested, and was seated comfortably, the king spoke to them, saying, 'Listen to them.'

Yudhishthira said: Do you remember those who are like shadows of your side, freed from the dangers of enmity?

By what means does this earth, surrounded by the moving creatures, exist? The holy places and the main sacred sites are served here on this earth.

Those who are like you, O Lord, are themselves holy places; they sanctify the holy places with their presence, holding the mace within.

Do our friends, relatives, and the deities Krishna, seen or heard of, dwell happily in their city?

Thus addressed by the king of dharma, all that was narrated in detail as experienced, without omitting the destruction of the Yadu dynasty.

Indeed, the beloved is unbearable for men when he is present; the compassionate one does not reveal himself to the sorrowful who cannot bear to see him.

For some time, when the wind blows, the one who is well-treated brings happiness like a god, and the elder brother brings joy to all.

Yama, as he should, did not impose punishment on those who committed sins, as long as he held the status of a Shudra for a hundred years due to a curse.

Seeing his grandson, Yudhishthira, having obtained the kingdom, was filled with great joy by his brothers and the guardians of the world.

Thus, in the homes of those attached and intoxicated, time, which is extremely difficult to cross, passed unnoticed.

Vidura, having understood this, spoke to Dhritarashtra: 'O King, let us leave quickly; behold, fear has come.'

He who has no response here at any time, O Lord, that very Lord is Time, who has come to us all.

By whom this person, even if attached to dear ones, is suddenly separated, what can wealth and other things do?

Fathers, brothers, friends, and sons are slain; your age has passed away. You are consumed by old age, and you worship another's home.

Oh, how glorious is the hope of life for beings like you! You take the body, which is abandoned by Bhima, like a householder.

Fire is created, given, and the houses are polluted; those whose fields and wealth are taken away, what is the use of such gifts?

This body of yours, O miser, is for the one who wishes to live; like an old garment, it is worn out and unwanted.

One who has renounced this body, free from attachments, should be known as wise; he who is unaware of the path should abandon it.

He who, having made the Supreme Lord his heart's abode, departs from home, is indeed the best among men.

Now, let him go towards the northern direction; the time for men is generally the decline of qualities.

Thus, the king, instructed by Vidura, having cut the bonds of affection, boldly departed on the path shown by his brother.

The devoted wife of Subala followed her husband as he departed, like a virtuous woman, her spirit uplifted like that of the strong.

The one without enemies, having made friends, and having performed the fire sacrifice, entered the house to pay respects to the guru, but did not see his parents or his brother.

There, Sanjaya was seated, and the distressed mind asked him, 'Where is our elder, who is blind and without sight?'

The mother, bereaved of her son, lamented, 'Where has my relative gone, my friend? Even though my wisdom is clouded, my slain kin has fallen into the Ganges, full of sorrow.'

The fathers, having departed, protected all our friends, the children, from calamity. Where have the uncles gone?

Soot spoke: Due to affection and distress, the sage was weakened by separation. He did not see the Lord within himself, being afflicted.

Wiping his tears with his hands, he steadied himself with his own mind, and remembering the Lord's feet, spoke to the one without enemies.

Sanjaya said: I do not know what the fathers have decided, O scion of the Kuru dynasty. I am bewildered by the great souls, even by Gandhari.

Then the Lord Narada arrived with Tumburu. Rising, he greeted them and worshipped with his brother.

Yudhishthira said: O Lord, I do not know the destination of my ancestors. Where have they gone? Or where has my mother, who is grieving for her slain sons, gone?

Like the bearer of the burden, the Lord, who is transparent, then spoke the great sage Narada.

O King, do not be troubled by the world that is under the control of the Lord. These beings, who are protected by Him, are connected to Him, and He also separates them.

Just as cows are tied by ropes, they are bound by names in the same way, and they are carried by the Lord who controls strength.

Just as the joining and separation of playthings happens by desire, similarly, the same happens with the desires of men.

What you think of as certain is uncertain, and what you think of as uncertain is also not certain. Therefore, you should not grieve, as attachment arises from delusion.

Therefore, give up the delusion created by ignorance of the self. How can the unfortunate ones, without me, live?

This body, governed by time, action, and qualities, is made of the five elements. How can it protect others, like a snake that is consumed by its own poison?

The hands of those with hands and the feet of the four-legged creatures are the sustenance for the great beings; the life of the living beings depends on them.

Thus, O King, the Supreme Lord, who is one, manifests as many; the infinite is perceived through the illusion of the finite.

Today, O Maharaja, the Lord, the creator of all beings, has descended in the form of time to eliminate the enemies of the gods.

The divine duty is being fulfilled, and it awaits completion; you should observe until the Lord is present here.

Dhritarashtra, along with his brother and Gandhari, went to the hermitage of the sages in the southern Himalayas.

The seven streams, which are the sevenfold essence of the waters, are said to be for the pleasure of the seven sages.

After bathing and performing the fire sacrifice properly, he sits there, having calmed his mind, free from desires.

One who has conquered the seat, the breath, and has withdrawn the six senses, is pure in the essence of goodness, having dispelled the rajas and tamas through devotion to Hari.

By uniting with the self-knowledge in the field-knower, he dissolves the ignorance, like the sky enveloping the pot.

The one whose illusion is dispelled, whose desires are restrained, and who has renounced all food, remains like a mountain, unmoving. There is no obstacle for him, who has renounced all actions.

Indeed, today, O king, on the fifth day, the body will laugh at itself; that will turn to ashes.

The chaste wife, standing outside, watches her husband, who is burning in the fire, along with her children.

Vidura, upon hearing that wonder, was filled with joy and sorrow, and thus he became a seeker of pilgrimage.

Thus speaking, Narada, along with Tumburu, ascended to heaven, and Yudhishthira, having taken his words to heart, became purified.