Text 40
etān me pṛcchataḥ praśnān
hareḥ karma-vivitsayā
brūhi me ’jñasya mitratvād
ajayā naṣṭa-cakṣuṣaḥ
etān — all these; me — my; pṛcchataḥ — of one who inquires; praśnān — questions; hareḥ — of the Supreme Lord; karma — pastimes; vivitsayā — desiring to know; brūhi — kindly describe; me — unto me; ajñasya — of one who is ignorant; mitratvāt — because of friendship; ajayā — by the external energy; naṣṭa-cakṣuṣaḥ — those who have lost their vision.
My dear sage, I have put all these questions before you with a view to knowing the pastimes of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the friend of all, so kindly describe them for all those who have lost their vision.
Vidura put forward many varieties of questions with a view to understanding the principles of transcendental loving service to the Lord. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.41), devotional service to the Lord is one, and the mind of the devotee is not diverted to the many branches of uncertainties. Vidura’s purpose was to be situated in that service to the Lord, wherein one merges undivertedly. He claimed the friendship of Maitreya Muni, not because he was Maitreya’s son but because Maitreya was actually the friend of all who have lost their spiritual vision due to material influence.