कया वृत्त्या वर्तितं वश्चरद्भिः क्षितिमण्डलम् तीर्थानि क्षेत्रमुख्यानि सेवितानीह भूतले
kayā vṛttyā vartitaṁ vaś caradbhiḥ kṣiti-maṇḍalam tīrthāni kṣetra-mukhyāni sevitānīha bhūtale
Synonyms
kayā—by which; vṛttyā—means; vartitam—maintained your livelihood; vaḥ—your good self; caradbhiḥ—while traveling; kṣiti-maṇḍalam—on the surface of the earth; tīrthāni—places of pilgrimage; kṣetra-mukhyāni—the principal holy places; sevitāni—served by you; iha—in this world; bhūtale—on this planet..
Translation
While traveling on the surface of the earth, how did you maintain your livelihood? At which holy places and pilgrimages did you render service?
Purport
Vidura went out from the palace to detach himself from household affairs, especially political intrigues. As referred to hereinbefore, he was practically insulted by Duryodhana's calling him a son of a śūdrāṇī, although it was not out of place to talk loosely in the case of one's grandmother. Vidura's mother, although a śūdrāṇī, was the grandmother of Duryodhana, and funny talks are sometimes allowed between grandmother and grandchildren. But because the remark was an actual fact, it was unpalatable talk for Vidura, and it was accepted as a direct insult. He therefore decided to quit his paternal house and prepare for the renounced order of life. This preparatory stage is called vānaprastha-āśrama, or retired life for traveling and visiting the holy places on the surface of the earth. In the holy places of India, like Vṛndāvana, Hardvar, Jagannātha Purī, Prayāga, etc., there are many great devotees, and there are still free kitchen houses for persons who desire to advance spiritually. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was inquisitive to learn whether Vidura maintained himself by the mercy of the free kitchen houses (chhatras).