Introduction
Vidura is the son of Vyasa and a maid of Ambika, and the half-brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu. He is the chief adviser of the Kuru kings, known for wise counsel.
This article primarily follows the Mahabharata. Where a well-known detail comes from a Puranic or later source, the article identifies it.
Family
Birth
Ambika sent her maid to Vyasa in her place for the niyoga. She served him with respect, and their son was Vidura. Because his mother was a maid, he could not be king. He is regarded as an incarnation of Dharma, who was cursed by the sage Mandavya to be born as a human.
Adviser
Vidura advised Dhritarashtra to avoid injustice, to send Duryodhana away, and to give the Pandavas their share. He warned the Pandavas about the house of lac. In the Udyoga Parva he gave Dhritarashtra a long counsel, the Vidura Niti. After the dice game he spoke against Duryodhana, who called him a servant's son.
Later life
After the war, Vidura went to the forest with Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He died there, and his life force is said to have entered Yudhishthira, since both were portions of Dharma.