प्रविशान्तःपुरं क्षत्तर्महारादजस्य धीमतः। न हि ते दर्शनेऽकल्पो जातु राजाऽब्रवीद्धि माम्
Enter the inner palace, steward, of the great and intelligent king; for the king told me that he is not incapable of seeing you.
ततः प्रविश्य विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रनिवेशनम् । अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं चिन्तयानं नराधिपम्
Then Vidura entered Dhritarashtra's residence and, with joined palms, spoke to the king who was deep in thought.
विदुरोऽहं महाप्राज्ञ संप्राप्तस्तव शासनात्। यदि किंचन कर्तव्यमयमस्मि प्रशाधि माम्
I am Vidura, O wise one, arrived at your command; if there is anything to be done, instruct me.
सञ्जयो विदुर प्राप्तो गर्हयित्वा च मां गतः। अजातशत्रोः श्वो वाक्यं सभामध्ये स वक्ष्यति
Sanjaya, Vidura, has come, reproached me, and departed; tomorrow, in the midst of the assembly, he will speak the words of Ajatasatru.
तस्याद्य कुरुवीरस्य न विज्ञातं वचो मया। तन्मे दहति गात्राणि तदकार्षीत्प्रजागरम्
I do not know today what that Kuru hero will say; that burns my limbs, and has caused me sleeplessness.
आग्रतो दह्यमानस्य श्रेयो यदनुपश्यसि। तद्ब्रूहि त्वं हि नस्तात धर्मार्थकुशलो ह्यसि
If you see any good for one burning with anxiety, speak it; for you, dear Vidura, are skilled in righteousness and wealth.
यतः प्राप्तः सञ्जयः पाण्डवेभ्यो न मे यथावन्मनसः प्रशान्तिः । सर्वेन्द्रियाण्यप्रकृतिं गतानि किं वक्ष्यतीत्येव मेऽद्य प्रचिन्ता
Since Sanjaya has returned from the Pandavas, my mind has not found peace; all my senses have lost their natural state, and I keep thinking: what will he say?
तन्मे ब्रूहि विदुर त्वं यथाव- न्मनीषितं सर्वमजातशत्रोः । यथा न नस्तात हितं भवेच्च प्रजाश्च सर्वाः सुखिता भवेयुः
So tell me, Vidura, everything as you truly understand Ajatasatru's intentions, so that, dear friend, our welfare may be ensured and all people may be happy.
अभियुक्तं बलवता दुर्बलं हीनसाधनम् । हृतस्वं कामिनं चोरमाविशन्ति प्रजागराः
Sleeplessness afflicts the weak when attacked by the strong, the one deprived of resources, the one whose wealth is stolen, the passionate, and the thief.
कच्चिदेतैर्महादोषैर्न स्पृष्टोऽसि नराधिप। कच्चिच्च परवित्तेषु गृद्ध्यन्न परितप्यसे
O King, I hope you are not touched by these great faults; I hope you do not covet others' wealth and do not grieve for it.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते धर्म्यं परं नैश्रेयसं वचः। अस्मिन्रादर्षिवंशे हि त्वमेकः प्राज्ञसंमतः
I wish to hear your righteous, supreme, and beneficial words; for in this royal lineage, you alone are esteemed as wise.
राजा लक्षणसंपन्नस्त्रैलोक्यस्याधिपो भवेत्। प्रेष्यस्ते प्रेषितश्चैव धृतराष्ट्र युधिष्ठिरः
A king endowed with proper qualities could be lord of the three worlds; but Dhritarashtra, Yudhishthira is your envoy and has been sent by you.
विपरीततरश्च त्वं भागधेये न संमतः। अर्चिषां प्रक्षयाच्चैव धर्मात्मा धर्मकोविदः
You are considered most contrary in destiny and not approved; and with the decline of radiance, the righteous and learned one is not favored.
आनृशंस्यादनुक्रोशाद्धर्मात्सत्यात्पराक्रमात्। गुरुत्वात्त्वयि संप्रेक्ष्य बहून्क्लेशांस्तितिक्षते
Because of compassion, empathy, righteousness, truth, valor, and dignity in you, many endure hardships.
दुर्योधने सौबले च कर्णे दुःशासने तथा। एतेष्वैश्वर्यमाधाय कथं त्वं भूतिमिच्छसि
How do you seek prosperity by placing authority in Duryodhana, Saubala, Karna, and Duhshasana?
आत्मज्ञानं समारम्भस्तितिक्षा धर्मनित्यता। यमर्थान्नापकर्षन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते
Self-knowledge, initiative, endurance, and constant adherence to righteousness—he whom wealth does not corrupt is called wise.
एकस्माद्वृक्षाद्यज्ञपात्राणि राज- न्स्रुक्व द्रोणी पेठनीपीडने च। एतस्माद्राजन्ब्रुवतो मे निबोध एकस्माद्वै जायतेऽसच्च सच्च
O King, from a single tree come the vessels of sacrifice: the ladle, the trough, the mortar, and the pressing stones. From this, O King, understand what I say: from one source, both truth and untruth arise.
निषेवते प्रशस्तानि निन्दितानि न सेवते। अनास्तिकः श्रद्दधान एतत्पण्डितलक्षणम्
He follows what is praised and does not pursue what is censured. He is not a skeptic, but one who has faith; this is the mark of a wise man.
क्रोधो हर्षश्च दर्पश्च ह्रीः स्तम्भो मान्यमानिता। यमर्थान्नापकर्षन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते
Anger, joy, pride, modesty, stubbornness, honor and dishonor—he whom these do not sway from his purpose is called wise.
यस्य कृत्यं न जानन्ति मन्त्रं वा मन्त्रितं परे। कृतमेवास्य जानन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He whose actions and counsel are unknown to others, but whose deeds alone are recognized—he is called wise.
यस्य कृत्यं न विघ्नन्ति शीतमुष्णं भयं रतिः। समृद्धिरसमृद्धिर्वा स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He whose actions are not hindered by cold, heat, fear, or pleasure, whether in prosperity or adversity—he is called wise.
यस्य संसारिणी प्रज्ञा धर्मार्थावनुवर्तते। कामादर्थं वृणीते यः स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He whose discerning intellect follows righteousness and wealth in worldly life, and who chooses wealth only for the sake of desire—he is called wise.
यथाशक्ति चिकीर्षन्ति यथाशक्ति च कुर्वते। किंचिदवमन्यन्ते नराः पण्डितबुद्धयः
According to their ability, they strive and act; according to their ability, they accomplish. Wise men with discernment sometimes disregard a little.
क्षिप्रं विजानाति चिरं श्रृणोति विज्ञाय चार्थं भजते न कामात्। नासंपृष्टो ह्युपयुङ्क्ते परार्थे तत्प्रज्ञानं प्रथमं पण्डितस्य
He quickly understands, listens for a long time, and having discerned the matter, acts not out of desire. He does not use what is not asked for, for the sake of others; this discernment is foremost in the wise.
नाप्राप्यमभिवाञ्छन्ति नष्टं नेच्छन्ति शोचितुम्। आपत्सु च न मुह्यन्ति नराः पण्डितबुद्धयः
They do not desire what cannot be attained, nor do they wish to grieve over what is lost. In adversity, wise men do not become confused.
निश्चित्य यः प्रक्रमते नान्तर्वसति कर्मणः। अवन्ध्यकालो वश्यात्मा स वै पण्डित उच्यते
He who acts after careful consideration and does not linger over his task, whose time is never wasted and whose self is controlled—he is called wise.
आर्यकर्मणि रज्यन्ते भूतिकर्माणि कुर्वते हितं च नाभ्यसूयन्ति पण्डिता भरतर्षभ
They delight in noble deeds, perform acts for prosperity, and do not envy what is beneficial, O best of Bharatas; such are the wise.
न हृष्यत्यात्मसंमाने नावमानेन तप्यते। गाङ्गो ह्रद इवाक्षोभ्यो यः स पण्डित उच्यते
He does not rejoice in self-honor nor is he troubled by disrespect. Like the Ganges in a deep pool, he is unshaken; such a one is called wise.
तत्त्वज्ञः सर्वभूतानां योगज्ञः सर्वकर्मणाम्। उपायज्ञो मनुष्याणां नरः पण्डित उच्यते
He who knows the essence of all beings, who knows the yoga of all actions, and who knows the means among men—such a person is called wise.
प्रवृत्तवाक् चित्रकथ ऊहवान्प्रतिभानवान्। आशु ग्रन्थस्य वक्ता च यः स पण्डित उच्यते
He whose speech is active, whose stories are varied, who is skilled in inference and possesses insight, and who can quickly expound a text—he is called wise.