Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 1:40-45

Book 3: Chapter 1

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 1: Verses 40-45 Meeting of Uddhava and Vidura Oh, Prtha (my sister-in-law) is surviving merely for the sake of her children, though bereaved of Pandu (that foremost of royal sages), who, a matchless hero and foremost car-warrior that he was, had conquered all the four quarters with no other companion than his bow. I feel concerned, O gentle Uddhava, for that brother of mine (Dhrtarastra), who is paving his way for hell, inasmuch as he wronged his own deceased half-brother (Pandu) in the person of his sons (the Pandavas), and who banished me, his well-wisher, from his capital (Hastinapura), having yielded completely to the will of his sons. I am, however, not the least surprised or sorry (for his behaviour towards me); for it is Sri Hari (Sri Krsna), the Supreme Ruler (of this universe), who bewilders the intellect of men by following the ways of mortals. I am, there-fore, moving about in this world, unperceived by others, observing His glory by His grace. The Lord overlooked (for the time being) the wrongdoings of the Kauravas, though capable of punishing them then and there; for He sought to relieve the distress of those who had taken shelter in Him by exterminating with them other monarchs too, who in their threefold pride (of birth, wealth and learning) had strayed from the path of virtue and shook the earth with their armies again and again, The birth and doings of the Lord, who is really birthless and actionless, are only for the extirpation of the wrongdoers as well as for attracting people towards Himself; otherwise (to say nothing of the Lord) what man that has transcended the three Gunas(modes of Prakrti) would tie himself down to a (corporeal) body or pursue an elaborate course of activity ? Therefore, 0 friend, tell me the news about that Lord of sacred renown who, though devoid of birth, has descended in the race of Yadu for the good of all the guardians of the different spheres who sought refuge in Him, as well of such other devotees as are (ever) at His beck and call. Thus ends the first discourse in Book Three,consisting of a dialogue between Vidura and Uddhava, of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.