चिकीर्षितं विप्रकृतं च यस्य नान्ये जनाः कर्म जानन्ति किंचित्। मन्त्रे गुप्ते सम्यगनुष्ठिते च नाल्पोऽप्यस्य च्यवते कश्चिदर्थः
Whatever he intends or has done, others do not know his actions; when counsel is kept secret and properly executed, not even a small part of his purpose fails.
यः सर्वभूतप्रशमे निविष्टः सत्यो मृदुर्मानकृच्छुद्धभावः अतीव स ज्ञायते ज्ञातिमध्ये महामणिर्जात्य इव सप्रन्नः
He who is established in the peace of all beings, truthful, gentle, free from pride, pure in intent—he is recognized among his kin like a great jewel, shining with brilliance.
य आत्मनाऽपत्रपते भृशं नरः स सर्वलोकस्य गुरुर्भवत्युत अनन्तजेजाः सुमनाः समाहितः स तेजसा सूर्य इवावभासते
He who feels deep shame for his own faults becomes the teacher of all people; possessing boundless energy, a cheerful mind, and concentration, he shines with radiance like the sun.
वने जाताः शापदग्धस्य राज्ञः पाण्डोः पुत्राः पञ्च पञ्चेन्द्रकल्पाः । त्वयैव बाला वर्धिताः शिक्षिताश्च तवादेशं पालयन्त्याम्बिकेय
The five sons of Pāṇḍu, equal to the five Indras, were born in the forest, exiled by the curse upon their father, the king; they were raised and taught by you alone, O Ambikā’s son, and they follow your command.
प्रदायैषामुचितं तातराज्यं सुखी पुत्रैः सहितो मोदमानः । न देवानां नापि च मानुषाणां भविष्यसि त्वं गर्हणीयो नरेन्द्र
Having given them their rightful kingdom, O King, you will rejoice happily with your sons; then, neither among the gods nor among men will you be subject to blame.
जाग्रतो दह्यमानस्य यत्कार्यमनुपश्यसि। तद्ब्रूहि त्वं हि नस्तात धर्मार्थकुशलः शुचिः
Whatever course of action you see fit while awake and troubled, speak that to us, father, for you are pure and skilled in righteousness and profit.
तस्माद्यथावद्विदुर प्रशाधि प्रज्ञापूर्वं सर्वमजातशत्रोः। यन्मन्यसे पथ्यमदीनसत्व श्रेयस्करं ब्रूहि तद्वै कुरूणाम्
Therefore, Vidura, govern everything properly and with discernment for Ajātaśatru; whatever you consider wholesome and beneficial for the Kurus, speak that without hesitation.
पापाशङ्की पापमेवानुपश्यन् पृच्छामि त्वां व्याकुलेनात्मनाहम् । कजे तन्मे ब्रूहि तत्पं यथाव- न्मनीषितं सर्वमजातशत्रोः
Fearing evil and seeing only evil, I ask you with an anxious heart; tell me, as you truly think, all that is best for Ajātaśatru.
शुभं वा यदि वा पापं द्वेष्यं वा यदि वा प्रियम्। नापृष्टः कस्यचिद्ब्रूयाद्यः स नेच्छेत्पराभवम्
Whether it is good or evil, hateful or dear, one should not speak to anyone unasked—such a person does not wish for another's defeat.
तस्माद्वक्ष्यामि ते राजन्हितं यत्स्यान्कुरून्प्रति। वचः श्रेयस्करं धर्म्यं ब्रुवतस्तन्निबोध मे
Therefore, O King, I will tell you what is beneficial for the Kurus; listen to my words, which bring welfare and are righteous.
मिथ्योपेतानि कर्माणि सिद्ध्येतादीनि भारत। अनुपायप्रयुक्तानि मा स्म ते....मनः कृथाः
Actions undertaken with false means, O Bhārata, may sometimes succeed, but those done without proper method—do not let your mind dwell on them.
तथैव योगविहितं यत्तु कर्म न सिध्यति। उपाययुक्तं मेधावी न तत्र ग्लपयेन्मनः
Likewise, if an action ordained by discipline does not succeed, the wise should not let their mind be distressed if it is undertaken with proper means.
अनुबन्धानवेक्षेत सानुबन्धेषु कर्मसु। संप्रधार्य च कुर्वीत सहसा न समाचरेत्
One should consider the consequences in actions that have consequences; after careful deliberation, one should act and not act rashly.
अनुबन्धं च संप्रेक्ष्य विपाकं चैव कर्मणाम्। उत्थानमात्मनश्चैव धीरः कुर्वीत वा न वा
Having considered the consequence and the result of actions, and one's own capacity, the wise person should act or not act accordingly.
यः प्रमाणं न जानाति स्थाने वृद्धौ तथा क्षये। कोशे जनपदे दण्डे न स राज्येऽवतिष्ठते
He who does not know the proper measure in growth and decline, in treasury, in the realm, and in punishment, does not maintain the kingdom.
यस्त्वेतानि प्रमाणानि यथोक्तान्यनुपश्यति। युक्तो धर्मार्थयोर्ज्ञाने स राज्यमधिगच्छति
But he who observes these measures as stated, endowed with knowledge of righteousness and profit, he attains sovereignty.
न राज्यं प्राप्तमित्येव वर्तितव्यमसांप्रतम्। श्रियं ह्यविनयो हन्ति जरा रूपमिवोत्तमम्
One should not behave as if the kingdom has already been attained; for, just as old age destroys even the finest beauty, lack of discipline destroys prosperity.
भक्ष्योत्तमप्रतिच्छन्नं मत्स्यो बडिशमायसम्। अन्नाभिलाषी ग्रसते नानुबन्धमवेक्षते
The fish, desiring food, swallows the iron hook hidden in the best bait, not considering the consequence.
यच्छक्यं ग्रसितुं ग्रस्यं ग्रस्तं परिणमेच्च यत्। हितं च परिणामे यत्तदाद्यं भूतिमिच्छता
Whatever can be digested should be eaten, and what has been eaten should be assimilated; that which is beneficial in the end should be first chosen by one who seeks prosperity.
वनस्पतेरपक्वानि फलानि प्रचिनोति यः। स नाप्नोति रसं तेभ्यो बीजं चास्य विनश्यति
He who gathers unripe fruits from a tree does not obtain their taste, and his seed is also lost.
यस्तु पक्वमुपादत्ते काले परिणतं फलम्। फलाद्रसं स लभते बीजाच्चैव फलं पुनः
But he who takes ripe fruit at the proper time obtains the taste from the fruit and, from the seed, fruit again.
यथा मधु समादत्ते रक्षन्पुष्पाणि षट्पदः। तद्वदर्थान्मनुष्येभ्य आदद्यादविहिंसया
Just as the bee gathers honey while protecting the flowers, so should one take wealth from people without causing harm.
पुष्पं पुष्पं विचिन्वीत मूलच्छेदं न कारयेत् । मालाकार इवारामे न यथाङ्गारकारकः
One should gather flowers one by one, but not uproot the plant—like a garland-maker in a garden, not like a charcoal-burner.
किं नु मे स्यादिदं कृत्वा किं नु मे स्यादकुर्वतः। इति कर्माणि सञ्चिन्त्य कुर्याद्वा पुरुषो न वा
What will come to me if I do this? What will come if I do not? Considering thus about actions, a person should act or not act.
अनारभ्या भवन्त्यर्थाः केचिन्नित्यं यथाऽगताः । कृतः पुरुषकारोऽहि भवेद्येषु निरर्थकः
Some aims are achieved even without effort, as if they arrive on their own; but when effort is made for such things, it becomes fruitless.
अनर्थे चैव निरतमर्थे चैव पराङ्भुखम्। न तं भर्तारमिच्छन्ति षण्ढं पतिमिव स्त्रियः
One who is always engaged in what is useless, and turns away from what is useful—women do not desire such a husband, just as they do not desire an impotent man.
प्रसादो निष्फलो यस्य क्रोधश्चापि निरर्थकः। न तं भर्तारमिच्छन्ति षण्ढं पतिमिव स्त्रियः
He whose favor is fruitless, and whose anger is also meaningless—women do not desire such a husband, just as they do not desire an impotent man.
कांश्चिदर्थान्नरः प्राज्ञो लघुमूलान्महाफलान् । क्षिप्रमारभते कर्तुं न दीर्घयति तादृशान्
A wise man quickly undertakes certain aims that have small roots but great fruits; he does not delay with such things.
ऋजु पश्यति यः सर्वं चक्षुषा नु पिबन्निव । आसीनमपि तूष्णीकमनुरज्यन्ति तं प्रजाः
He who sees everything straightforwardly, as if drinking it in with his eyes—even when sitting silently, people are drawn to him.
सुपुष्पितः स्यादफलः फलितः स्याद्दुरारुहः । अपक्वः पक्वसङ्काशो न तु शीर्येत कर्हिचित्
A tree may be full of flowers but bear no fruit; or it may bear fruit but be hard to climb; it may look ripe but not be so, yet it never withers away.