05.033
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
King Dhritarashtra, known for his wisdom, instructed the doorkeeper to bring Vidura to him immediately, expressing his desire to see him without any delay.
A messenger sent by Dhritarashtra spoke to Vidura: "The lord, the great king, wishes to see you, O wise one."
After being spoken to in this manner, Vidura went to the royal palace and told the doorkeeper to inform Dhritarashtra of his arrival.
The doorkeeper spoke:
Vidura has come, O king, as per your order. He wishes to pay his respects to you. Please instruct me on what he should do.
Dhritarashtra said:
"Admit the wise and far-sighted Vidura. I should never be delayed in seeing him."
The doorkeeper announced.
Enter the inner chambers, O chamberlain of the wise great king. The king never considers your visits untimely, he tells me.
Vaishampayana spoke:
Vidura entered Dhritarashtra's palace and respectfully addressed the thoughtful king.
Vidura, I have come at your command, O wise one. If there is anything to be done, I am here, please instruct me.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
Sanjaya, after reproaching Vidura, has come to me. Tomorrow, he will convey Ajatashatru's message in the assembly.
Today, I did not understand the words of the Kuru hero. That ignorance torments me and has caused me sleeplessness.
Dear father, you who are skilled in righteousness and wealth, please tell us what you see here as better for the awake and burning.
Sanjaya has returned from the Pandavas, and my mind is not at peace as it should be. All my senses are disturbed, and I am worried about what he will say today.
Vidura spoke:
The wakeful ones take advantage of the weak who are attacked by the strong, those lacking resources, those whose wealth is taken, lovers, and thieves.
O king, I hope you are not affected by these great faults and are not suffering due to coveting others' wealth.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
I wish to hear your righteous and supreme words that lead to the highest good. Indeed, in this dynasty of royal sages, you alone are considered wise.
Vidura spoke:
A wise person associates with praiseworthy things and not with blameworthy ones. They are faithful and not skeptical, which are marks of wisdom.
He who is not distracted by anger, joy, pride, modesty, stubbornness, respect, and honor is indeed called wise.
A person whose actions and plans are unknown to others, and are only known when accomplished, is indeed called wise.
A person whose duties are not hindered by external conditions such as cold, heat, fear, pleasure, prosperity, or adversity is truly considered wise.
A person whose worldly wisdom aligns with dharma (righteousness) and artha (wealth), and who chooses purpose over mere desire, is truly called wise.
The wise, O best of the Bharatas, act and wish to act to the best of their abilities and do not disrespect anything.
A wise person quickly understands and listens for a long time. They pursue meaning after understanding it, not out of desire. They do not engage in others' matters without being asked. This is the primary wisdom of a wise person.
Wise individuals do not long for what cannot be attained, do not wish to mourn over what is lost, and remain composed in times of trouble.
He who, having determined, commences action without dwelling on it, does not waste time, and is self-controlled, is indeed called wise.
O best of the Bharatas, the wise delight in noble deeds, perform acts that bring prosperity, and do not envy the welfare of others.
A wise person is one who remains unaffected by honor or insult, just like the calm and unshaken waters of a Ganges lake.
A man who understands the principles of all beings, the yoga of all actions, and the means of men is considered wise.
He who is eloquent, tells vivid stories, is imaginative and intelligent, and quickly speaks of the text, is indeed called a scholar.
A person whose knowledge aligns with wisdom and whose wisdom aligns with knowledge, maintaining unbroken noble conduct, is worthy of being called a scholar.
The wise call someone foolish who is unlearned, arrogant, poor, yet great-minded, and desires wealth without making any effort.
A person who forsakes his own interests to serve others, acts deceitfully for the sake of friends, and is foolish, is called such.
A person who desires those who have no desires, who hates those who have desires, and who despises the strong, is called foolish-minded.
A person who turns an enemy into a friend, hates and harms his friends, and engages in evil actions is called foolish-minded.
O best of the Bharatas, a foolish person causes confusion in duties everywhere, doubts persistently, and delays in urgent matters.
An uninvited person enters and speaks excessively without being asked. Among those who are careless and trusting, the one with a foolish mind is considered the lowest of men.
A person who blames others while being at fault himself, and who gets angry despite being powerless, is the most foolish of men.
A person who does not know their own strength, lacks righteousness and wealth, and desires unattainable inaction is considered to have a foolish mind here.
A king who governs those who are undisciplined, who reveres the void, and who keeps company with the miserly is called one with a foolish mind.
A person who, having acquired great wealth, knowledge, or prosperity, remains humble and unpretentious is considered wise.
One who eats sumptuously and wears fine clothes without sharing with his servants, who is more cruel than that?
A single person commits sins and enjoys the results, while the great person. Those who enjoy are liberated, but the doer is tainted by the fault.
An arrow shot by a skilled archer might kill one person or might not, but the wisdom imparted by an intelligent person can destroy an entire kingdom along with its ruler.
Determine two with one, control thirty-four with four. After conquering five, knowing six-seven, and abandoning them, be happy.
A single poison can kill one person, a weapon can kill another; but the leakage of confidential counsel can destroy a king along with his entire kingdom and subjects.
One should not enjoy delicacies alone, nor should one ponder over wealth in solitude. It is unwise to travel a path alone, and one should not remain awake when others are asleep.
There is only one truth, without a second, which you, O king, do not comprehend. Truth serves as a stairway to heaven, much like a boat serves to cross the ocean.
The only fault found in forgiving people is that others may perceive them as weak because of their forgiving nature.
The supreme good is found in one duty; the best peace is in forgiveness. Knowledge provides the highest vision, and non-violence brings happiness.
The earth consumes two types of people: a king who does not stand against challenges and a Brahmin who does not travel, much like a serpent consumes those dwelling in holes.
A man is esteemed in this world by engaging in two actions: refraining from speaking anything harsh or false, and not pursuing such matters.
O tiger among men, there are two types of people who depend on others: women who desire what is desired, and those who worship the worshipped.
There are two sharp thorns that dry up the body: one is the poor man who desires, and the other is the powerless man who becomes angry.
O king, there are two types of men who stand above heaven: a patient lord and a generous poor man.
There are two transgressions regarding lawfully obtained wealth: giving it to someone unworthy and not giving it to someone worthy.
O best of the Bharatas, it is said that there are three types of principles among men: inferior, middle, and superior, as known by those who are versed in the Vedas.
O king, people can be categorized into three types: the best, the worst, and the mediocre. They should be assigned tasks according to their capabilities.
O king, there are three who are without wealth: the wife, the servant, and the son. Whatever they acquire, it belongs to the one for whom they acquire it; that is his wealth.
The wise say that a mighty king should avoid four things: taking counsel with the less intelligent, procrastinators, the lazy, and the wicked.
O father, four types of people should reside in your prosperous household: an elderly person, a distressed relative, a noble friend, and a childless sister.
Bṛhaspati addressed the great king, explaining the four newly created items that the lord of the thirty gods inquired about, urging him to understand them.
The will of the deities and the wise manifests as humility in the learned and leads to the destruction of the wicked.
O best of the Bharatas, a person should diligently worship the five fires, which are the father, mother, fire, self, and teacher.
By honoring these five entities in the world, one gains fame: the gods, ancestors, humans, monks, and guests as the fifth.
Wherever you go, five types of people will accompany you: friends, enemies, neutral parties, those who depend on you, and those who depend on others.
If a mortal has a flaw in one of his five senses, his wisdom drains away from his resolve like water from a foot.
A person who desires prosperity should abandon six flaws: sleep, lethargy, fear, anger, laziness, and procrastination.
A wise person should avoid relying on things that are broken or ineffective, just as one would not trust a broken boat in the ocean, a teacher who does not teach, or a priest who does not study.
A king who does not protect, a wife who speaks unpleasantly, a cowherd who desires the village, and a barber who desires the forest are all undesirable.
A person should always uphold six qualities: truth, charity, diligence, non-envy, forgiveness, and fortitude, as they are essential virtues.
One who has achieved mastery over the eternal six aspects within oneself is not troubled by sins or misfortunes, as he has control over his senses.
These six live among the six, but the seventh is not found. Thieves thrive when people are inattentive, and doctors are needed when people are diseased.
Women desire those who perform sacrifices, priests are with sacrificers, the king is always involved in disputes, and scholars are among fools.
Kings must always eliminate the seven faults that lead to calamities, as these often cause even well-established rulers to fall.
The five vices are women, dice, hunting, drinking, and harsh speech; along with severe punishment and corruption of wealth.
There are eight omens that foretell the downfall of a man: firstly, he begins to hate Brahmins and opposes them.
He seizes the possessions of the Brahmins and seeks to harm them. He finds joy in criticizing them and does not appreciate their praise.
A wise person does not dwell on these matters in his duties, nor does he become envious when asked. Recognizing these faults with understanding, he should avoid them.
O Bharata, these eight newly obtained joys are indeed seen as very pleasant and are also present.
There is a meeting with friends, a great acquisition of wealth, an embrace with the son, and a union in intercourse.
At the right time, engaging in pleasant conversations and showing humility within one's own groups, gaining what is desired, and receiving respect in public assemblies.
The wise one who understands this body, described as a nine-gated city with three pillars and five witnesses, is considered the supreme sage or poet.
O Dhritarashtra, be aware that ten types of people do not understand virtues: those who are intoxicated, careless, mad, tired, angry, and hungry.
A wise person should not indulge in these ten states: being hasty, fearful, greedy, and desirous.
Here, they recount this ancient tale, sung by the lord of demons for the desire of a son, and also by Sudhanvan.
A king who forsakes desires and anger, allocates wealth to the deserving, is renowned for his discernment and swift actions, is regarded as a standard by all people.
He understands whom to trust among humans and punishes unknown faults. He knows the measure and forgiveness; prosperity completely favors such a person.
A wise person does not underestimate anyone who appears weak; he strategically engages with adversaries. He avoids conflicts with those who are powerful and acts wisely at the right time.
When faced with calamity, he remains undisturbed at all times; he diligently seeks effort and remains vigilant. The self-controlled individual endures pain in due time; his enemies are conquered by his leadership.
A person who refrains from pointless exile, sinful associations, infidelity, deceit, theft, slander, and intoxication is perpetually content.
A wise person does not start a venture for wealth with excitement; when compelled, he speaks only the truth. He does not engage in disputes for trivial gains, nor does he become angry when not honored.
A person who neither envies nor lacks compassion, who is not weak and does not act impulsively, who does not speak excessively and forgives arguments, is praised everywhere.
A person who never shows arrogance, does not boast about his strength to others, and does not speak harshly in delusion, always finds people being pleasant to him.
A person with a noble character does not inflame enmity, remains calm, does not let pride ascend, and does not fall into despair thinking 'I am fallen'. Such a character is considered supreme and excellent.
A noble person with honorable character neither rejoices in his own happiness nor is disturbed by the sorrow of others. After giving, he does not feel regret, nor does he boast about it.
The one who does not wish to follow the local customs, conventions, and caste duties, but understands the higher and lower truths, always gains leadership among the great people wherever he goes.
A wise person should avoid hypocrisy, delusion, envy, evil deeds, slander, and arguments with intoxicated, insane, or wicked people, as these are despised by kings and lead to group enmity. Such a person is considered eminent.
The deities promote the rise of one who regularly performs self-control, purity, divinity, auspicious acts, atonement, and considers various worldly opinions.
A wise person forms relationships and conducts with equals, not inferiors. They appoint those who are distinguished by their qualities, ensuring their policies are well-guided.
A self-possessed person eats and sleeps in moderation, shares with dependents, performs immeasurable work, and gives even to enemies when asked, thereby completely abandoning misfortunes.
The actions intended and executed by him are unknown to others; when the counsel is kept secret and properly executed, no small purpose of his is disturbed.
He who is settled in the peace of all beings, truthful, gentle, charitable, and pure-hearted, is highly regarded among his kin, like a naturally serene great jewel.
A man who feels deep shame within himself becomes the teacher of all worlds, possessing infinite splendor, a good mind, and composure; he shines like the sun with his own brilliance.
The five sons of King Pandu, who was cursed, were born in the forest. They are like five Indras and were raised and taught by you, O son of Ambika, and they follow your command.
Dear father, after giving this rightful kingdom, you will live happily with your sons, rejoicing. Neither gods nor men will question your actions, O king.
