05.040
विदुर उवाच॥
Vidura spoke:
योऽभ्यर्थितः सद्भिरसज्जमानः; करोत्यर्थं शक्तिमहापयित्वा। क्षिप्रं यशस्तं समुपैति सन्तमलं; प्रसन्ना हि सुखाय सन्तः ॥५-४०-१॥
When a person, requested by virtuous people, acts without attachment and relinquishes power, he quickly gains the fame that is sufficient for the virtuous, as the virtuous are indeed pleased for the sake of happiness.
महान्तमप्यर्थमधर्मयुक्तं; यः सन्त्यजत्यनुपाक्रुष्ट एव। सुखं स दुःखान्यवमुच्य शेते; जीर्णां त्वचं सर्प इवावमुच्य ॥५-४०-२॥
A person who, without attachment, gives up even great wealth that is unrighteous, finds happiness and is free from sorrows, just as a snake sheds its old skin.
अनृतं च समुत्कर्षे राजगामि च पैशुनम्। गुरोश्चालीकनिर्बन्धः समानि ब्रह्महत्यया ॥५-४०-३॥
Falsehood, prosperity, approaching the king, slander, and insistence on falsehood regarding the teacher are considered as grave as the killing of a Brahmin.
असूयैकपदं मृत्युरतिवादः श्रियो वधः। अशुश्रूषा त्वरा श्लाघा विद्यायाः शत्रवस्त्रयः ॥५-४०-४॥
Envy leads to death in a single word; excessive speech destroys prosperity. Disobedience, haste, and boasting are the three enemies of knowledge.
सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या नास्ति विद्यार्थिनः सुखम्। सुखार्थी वा त्यजेद्विद्यां विद्यार्थी वा सुखं त्यजेत् ॥५-४०-५॥
A person seeking pleasure cannot attain knowledge, and a person seeking knowledge cannot attain pleasure. One must choose to either abandon the pursuit of knowledge for pleasure or abandon pleasure for the pursuit of knowledge.
नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः। नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचना ॥५-४०-६॥
Just as fire is never satisfied with fuel, the ocean with rivers, or death with all beings, women with beautiful eyes are never satisfied with men.
आशा धृतिं हन्ति समृद्धिमन्तकः; क्रोधः श्रियं हन्ति यशः कदर्यता। अपालनं हन्ति पशूंश्च राज; न्नेकः क्रुद्धो ब्राह्मणो हन्ति राष्ट्रम् ॥५-४०-७॥
Hope destroys patience; anger destroys wealth and fame, while miserliness leads to downfall. Neglect can ruin cattle and a king, and a single angry Brahmin can bring down a kingdom.
अजश्च कांस्यं च रथश्च नित्यं; मध्वाकर्षः शकुनिः श्रोत्रियश्च। वृद्धो ज्ञातिरवसन्नो वयस्य; एतानि ते सन्तु गृहे सदैव ॥५-४०-८॥
May you always have in your house a goat, bronze, a chariot, a honey-extractor, a bird, a learned person, an old relative, a depressed friend; these should always be present in your home.
अजोक्षा चन्दनं वीणा आदर्शो मधुसर्पिषी। विषमौदुम्बरं शङ्खः स्वर्णं नाभिश्च रोचना ॥५-४०-९॥
The verse lists various items: ajoksha wood, sandalwood, a lute, a mirror, honey and ghee, a poisonous fig tree, a conch, gold, a navel, and brilliance, each symbolizing different qualities or attributes.
गृहे स्थापयितव्यानि धन्यानि मनुरब्रवीत्। देवब्राह्मणपूजार्थमतिथीनां च भारत ॥५-४०-१०॥
Manu said, "O Bharata, grains should be stored in the house for worshipping gods and Brahmins, and for the guests."
इदं च त्वां सर्वपरं ब्रवीमि; पुण्यं पदं तात महाविशिष्टम्। न जातु कामान्न भयान्न लोभा; द्धर्मं त्यजेज्जीवितस्यापि हेतोः ॥५-४०-११॥
I declare to you, dear one, this is the most excellent sacred place. One should never abandon duty out of desire, fear, or greed, even for the sake of life.
नित्यो धर्मः सुखदुःखे त्वनित्ये; नित्यो जीवो धातुरस्य त्वनित्यः। त्यक्त्वानित्यं प्रतितिष्ठस्व नित्ये; सन्तुष्य त्वं तोषपरो हि लाभः ॥५-४०-१२॥
Duty is eternal, while happiness and sorrow are fleeting. The soul is eternal, but its elements are transient. Abandon the transient and establish yourself in the eternal. By being content, you achieve true gain, as contentment itself is the greatest wealth.
महाबलान्पश्य महानुभावा; न्प्रशास्य भूमिं धनधान्यपूर्णाम्। राज्यानि हित्वा विपुलांश्च भोगा; न्गतान्नरेन्द्रान्वशमन्तकस्य ॥५-४०-१३॥
Behold the mighty and noble souls; after ruling the earth abundant in wealth and grains, and forsaking kingdoms and vast pleasures, the kings have succumbed to the power of death.
मृतं पुत्रं दुःखपुष्टं मनुष्या; उत्क्षिप्य राजन्स्वगृहान्निर्हरन्ति। तं मुक्तकेशाः करुणं रुदन्त; श्चितामध्ये काष्ठमिव क्षिपन्ति ॥५-४०-१४॥
The grieving people, with disheveled hair and weeping, carry their dead son out of the house and place him on the funeral pyre as if he were a mere log.
अन्यो धनं प्रेतगतस्य भुङ्क्ते; वयांसि चाग्निश्च शरीरधातून्। द्वाभ्यामयं सह गच्छत्यमुत्र; पुण्येन पापेन च वेष्ट्यमानः ॥५-४०-१५॥
Another person enjoys the wealth left by the deceased; the body is consumed by birds and fire. Accompanied by both virtue and sin, the soul travels to the next world.
उत्सृज्य विनिवर्तन्ते ज्ञातयः सुहृदः सुताः। अग्नौ प्रास्तं तु पुरुषं कर्मान्वेति स्वयङ्कृतम् ॥५-४०-१६॥
Relatives, friends, and sons return after abandoning; however, the deeds performed by oneself follow the man even when offered into the fire.
अस्माल्लोकादूर्ध्वममुष्य चाधो; महत्तमस्तिष्ठति ह्यन्धकारम्। तद्वै महामोहनमिन्द्रियाणां; बुध्यस्व मा त्वां प्रलभेत राजन् ॥५-४०-१७॥
Above this world and below that, there exists the greatest darkness. It is the great delusion of the senses; understand this, O king, and do not let it deceive you.
इदं वचः शक्ष्यसि चेद्यथाव; न्निशम्य सर्वं प्रतिपत्तुमेवम्। यशः परं प्राप्स्यसि जीवलोके; भयं न चामुत्र न चेह तेऽस्ति ॥५-४०-१८॥
If you can comprehend this message correctly after hearing everything, you will achieve great fame in this world; you will have no fear either here or in the afterlife.
आत्मा नदी भारत पुण्यतीर्था; सत्योदका धृतिकूला दमोर्मिः। तस्यां स्नातः पूयते पुण्यकर्मा; पुण्यो ह्यात्मा नित्यमम्भोऽम्भ एव ॥५-४०-१९॥
The self is metaphorically described as a river in India, symbolizing a sacred place with truthful waters, banks of patience, and waves of self-control. Bathing in this river signifies purification through virtuous deeds, emphasizing that the self is inherently pure and constant like water.
कामक्रोधग्राहवतीं पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम्। कृत्वा धृतिमयीं नावं जन्मदुर्गाणि सन्तर ॥५-४०-२०॥
Make a firm boat to cross the river of life, filled with the waters of the five senses and inhabited by the crocodiles of desire and anger.
प्रज्ञावृद्धं धर्मवृद्धं स्वबन्धुं; विद्यावृद्धं वयसा चापि वृद्धम्। कार्याकार्ये पूजयित्वा प्रसाद्य; यः सम्पृच्छेन्न स मुह्येत्कदाचित् ॥५-४०-२१॥
One who honors and pleases a wise, righteous, and learned elder, who is also a relative and elder by age, and then inquires about what is right and wrong, will never be confused.
धृत्या शिश्नोदरं रक्षेत्पाणिपादं च चक्षुषा। चक्षुःश्रोत्रे च मनसा मनो वाचं च कर्मणा ॥५-४०-२२॥
One should protect their genitals and belly with firmness, their hands and feet with their eyes, their eyes and ears with their mind, and their mind and speech with their actions.
नित्योदकी नित्ययज्ञोपवीती; नित्यस्वाध्यायी पतितान्नवर्जी। ऋतं ब्रुवन्गुरवे कर्म कुर्व; न्न ब्राह्मणश्च्यवते ब्रह्मलोकात् ॥५-४०-२३॥
A Brahmin who regularly performs his duties such as fetching water, wearing the sacred thread, studying, avoiding impure food, speaking truth to his teacher, and fulfilling his responsibilities, remains steadfast in the realm of Brahma.
अधीत्य वेदान्परिसंस्तीर्य चाग्नी; निष्ट्वा यज्ञैः पालयित्वा प्रजाश्च। गोब्राह्मणार्थे शस्त्रपूतान्तरात्मा; हतः सङ्ग्रामे क्षत्रियः स्वर्गमेति ॥५-४०-२४॥
A Kshatriya, after studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices, protecting his subjects, and fighting for the sake of cows and Brahmins, attains heaven when he is killed in battle, as his soul is purified by the weapons.
वैश्योऽधीत्य ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियांश्च; धनैः काले संविभज्याश्रितांश्च। त्रेतापूतं धूममाघ्राय पुण्यं; प्रेत्य स्वर्गे देवसुखानि भुङ्क्ते ॥५-४०-२५॥
The merchant, after learning from the Brahmins and Kshatriyas and distributing wealth to his dependents, partakes in the purified smoke of the Tretā ritual and enjoys heavenly pleasures after death.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रं वैश्यवर्णं च शूद्रः; क्रमेणैतान्न्यायतः पूजयानः। तुष्टेष्वेतेष्वव्यथो दग्धपाप; स्त्यक्त्वा देहं स्वर्गसुखानि भुङ्क्ते ॥५-४०-२६॥
By honoring Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras in their respective order, and when they are pleased, one who is free from distress and whose sins are burnt, upon abandoning the body, enjoys the pleasures of heaven.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्यैष धर्मस्तवोक्तो; हेतुं चात्र ब्रुवतो मे निबोध। क्षात्राद्धर्माद्धीयते पाण्डुपुत्र; स्तं त्वं राजन्राजधर्मे नियुङ्क्ष्व ॥५-४०-२७॥
The duties of the four castes have been explained to you. Understand the reason I am speaking here. O son of Pandu, one is deprived of duty from the warrior class; therefore, O king, engage him in the duties of a ruler.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
एवमेतद्यथा मां त्वमनुशाससि नित्यदा। ममापि च मतिः सौम्य भवत्येवं यथात्थ माम् ॥५-४०-२८॥
O gentle one, just as you always instruct me, my mind too aligns with your words.
सा तु बुद्धिः कृताप्येवं पाण्डवान्प्रति मे सदा। दुर्योधनं समासाद्य पुनर्विपरिवर्तते ॥५-४०-२९॥
My resolve, though made in favor of the Pandavas, always changes again when I approach Duryodhana.
न दिष्टमभ्यतिक्रान्तुं शक्यं मर्त्येन केनचित्। दिष्टमेव कृतं मन्ये पौरुषं तु निरर्थकम् ॥५-४०-३०॥
It is impossible for any mortal to overcome destiny. I believe that destiny alone is fulfilled, and human effort is futile.
