|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 40 – The legend of Lord Krishna - Dhritharashtra and Devi Gandhari leaving the mortal coil

Vidura speaks to Dhritarashtra “Oh! Rajan, the body has to undergo ruin and death, the supreme soul resides as a soul in us has no birth and death. Your body will face ruin at any moment; therefore the time has arrived to leave this palace. Oh! Rajan, you have to get rid of worldly bondage and attachments and practice the mind and intellect to attain union with the Supreme Lord.” Dhritarashtra was immensely pleased with Vidura, thus they have decided to leave the palace of Hastinapura on the very next day before Pandava visit his chamber in the early hours of dawn, to prostrate before him.  Devi Gandhari followed Dhritharashtra, led by Vidura moved out the palace was witnessed by Sanjaya.  Dhritarashtra strictly ordered Sanyaja do not let Pandavas to know that he and Devi Gandhari left the palace forever. Sanjaya could not bear the grief, shed tears of utter distress.  Thus, Dhritarashtra hold the hand of Vidura and followed by Devi Gandhari left the palace of Hastinapura.

Vidura brought Dhritarashtra and Devi Gandhari on the riverbank of Ganga in Haridwar. Vidura taught him the highest of the spiritual knowledge, with the constant practice of meditation and contemplation upon supreme Lord, recitation of glorious myths and listening to his various pastimes, Dhritharshtra and Devi Gandhari got rid of all the impurities and sins.  Thus, Dhritharashthra got his sight of wisdom and supreme knowledge; he realized the presence of the supreme Lord in him, left his mortal coil.  Vidura performed the last rite of his elder brother; Devi Gandhari who has already attained the highest state of spirituality sacrificed her life in the funeral pyre of her husband. Vidura felt highly pleased for them and conducted his spiritual journey.

In the palace of Hastinapura, it was the daily practice of Pandavas to perform religious rites in the early hours and prostrate before Dhritharashtra and Devi Gandhari.  As usual, on that day Pandavas entered the chamber of Dhritarashtra and found it was empty. They conducted rigorous search all over the palace, but did not find them, they enquired Sanjaya who was in extreme grief, and shedding tears could not utter a word.  Dharmaputhra became grief-stricken, wept bitterly “Oh! Bhagavan, I have committed a grave sin towards my elderly parents-like King Dhritarashtra and Devi Gandhari, they have lost all their children in the war field, no one to look after them, they might have felt shame to live with us and consume the meal.  I have lost them due to my inefficiency; I have not taken care of them appropriately.”