अतीव सर्वान्पुत्रांस्ते भागधेयपुरस्कृतः। तेजसा प्रज्ञया चैव युक्तो धर्मर्थतत्त्ववित्
Surpassing all your sons in destiny, endowed with energy and wisdom, and knowing the essence of righteousness and profit, he is fit to rule.
अनुक्रोशादानृशंस्याद्योऽसौ धर्मभृतां वरः। गौरवात्तव राजेन्द्र बहून्क्लेशांस्तितिक्षति
Out of compassion and non-cruelty, that foremost of the righteous, O King, endures many hardships out of respect for you.
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। आत्रेयस्य च संवादं साध्यानां चेति नः श्रुतम्
Here they recite an ancient story, the dialogue between Ātreya and the Sādhyas, as we have heard.
चरन्तं हंसरूपेण महर्षिं संशितव्रतम्। साध्या देवा महाप्राज्ञं पर्यपृच्छन्त वै पुरा
Once, the Sādhyas questioned the great sage of firm vows, who was wandering in the form of a swan.
साध्या देवा वयमेते महर्षे दृष्ट्वा भवन्तं न शक्नुमोऽनुमातुम्। श्रुतेन धीरो बुद्धिमांस्त्वं मतो नः काव्यां वाचं वक्तुमर्हस्युदाराम्
O great sage, we Sādhyā gods, upon seeing you, are unable to comprehend you. You are esteemed by us as wise and learned through your hearing; you are worthy to speak noble speech and poetic words.
एतत्कार्यममराः संश्रुतं मे धृतिः शमः सत्यधर्मानुवृत्तिः। ग्रन्थिं विनीय हृदयस्य सर्वं प्रियाप्रिये चात्मसमं नयीत
This duty, O immortals, has been declared to me: steadfastness, self-restraint, adherence to truth and righteousness. Having removed all knots from the heart, one should treat both pleasant and unpleasant as equal to oneself.
आक्रुश्यमानो नाक्रोशेन्मन्युरेव तितिक्षतः। आक्रोष्टारं निर्दहति सुकृतं चास्य विन्दति
When insulted, one should not insult in return; anger alone must be endured. The one who insults is consumed, and the patient person attains merit.
नाक्रोशी स्यान्नावमानी परस्य मित्रद्रोही नोत नीचोपसेवी। न चाभिमानी न च हीनवृत्तो रूक्षां वाचं रुशतीं वर्जयीत
One should not be an insulter, nor disrespect others, nor betray friends, nor serve the lowly. One should not be arrogant, nor act basely, and should avoid harsh and angry speech.
मर्माण्यस्थीनि हृदयं तथासू- न्रूक्षा वाचो निर्दहन्तीह पुंसाम्। तस्माद्वाचमुशतीं रूक्षरूपां धर्मारामो नित्यशो वर्जयीत
Harsh words burn the vital points, bones, heart, and even life of men. Therefore, one devoted to righteousness should always avoid angry and harsh speech.
अरुन्तुदं परुषं रूक्षवाचं वाक्कण्टकैर्वितुदन्तं मनुष्यान्। विद्यादलक्ष्मीकतमं जननां मुखे निबद्धां निर्ऋतिं वै वहन्तम्
A person who is abusive, harsh, and speaks rough words, who wounds others with verbal thorns, is marked by lack of learning and fortune, and carries ruin bound to his mouth.
परश्चेदेनमभिविद्ध्येत बाणै- र्भृशं सुतीक्ष्णैरनलार्कदीप्तैः । विरिच्यमानोऽप्यतिरिच्यमानो विद्यात्कविः सुकृतं मे दधाति
Even if someone strikes him with arrows—sharp, blazing like fire and the sun—though afflicted and overwhelmed, the wise poet knows that merit is gained for me.
यदि सन्तं सेवति यद्यसन्तं तपस्विनं यदि वा स्तेनमेव। वासो यथा रङ्गवशं प्रयाति तथा स तेषां वशमभ्युपैति
Whether he serves the virtuous, the wicked, the ascetic, or even a thief, just as a garment follows the will of the stage, so he comes under their influence.
अतिवादं न प्रवदेन्न वादये- द्यो नाहतः प्रतिहन्यान्न घातयेत् । हन्तुं च यो नेच्छति पापकं वै तस्मै देवाः स्पृहयन्त्यागताय
One should not speak excessive words nor argue; one who is not attacked should not retaliate nor harm. He who does not wish to kill the wicked is desired by the gods who have come.
अव्याहृतं व्याहृताच्छ्रेय आहुः सत्यं वदेद्व्याहृतं तद्द्वितीयम्। प्रियं वदेद्व्याहृतं तत्तृतीयं धर्म्यं वदेद्व्याहृतं तच्चतुर्थम्
They say unspoken words are better than spoken. One should speak truth—that is the second. One should speak pleasant words—that is the third. One should speak righteous words—that is the fourth.
यादृशैः सन्निविशते यादृशांश्चोपसेवते। यादृगिच्छेच्च भवितुं तादृग्भवति पूरुषः
As one associates, as one serves, as one desires to become, so does a person become.
यतो यतो निवर्तते ततस्ततो विमुच्यते। निवर्तनाद्धि सर्वतो न वेत्ति दुःखमण्वपि ।। न जीयते चानुजिगीषतेऽन्या- न्न वैरकृच्चाप्रतिघातकश्च
From wherever one withdraws, from there one is freed. By withdrawing from everything, one does not experience even a little sorrow. He is not conquered, nor does he seek to conquer others, nor does he create enmity or retaliation.
निन्दाप्रशंसासु समस्वभावो न शोचते हृष्यति नैव चायम्
He is equal-minded in both blame and praise, neither grieving nor rejoicing.
भावमिच्छति सर्वस्य नाभावे कुरुते मनः। सत्यवादी मृदुर्दान्तो यः स उत्तमपूरुषः
He desires the well-being of all, does not set his mind on their absence, speaks truth, is gentle and self-controlled—such a person is the highest.
नानर्थकं सान्त्वयति प्रतिज्ञाय ददाति च। रन्ध्रं परस्य जानाति यः स मध्यमपूरुषः
He does not offer empty consolation, gives what he promises, and knows the faults of others—such a person is the middling type.
निराकरोति मित्राणि यो वै सोऽधमपूरुषः
He who rejects friends is the lowest type of person.
उत्तमानेव सेवेत प्राप्तकाले तु मध्यमान्। अधमांस्तु न सेवेत य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः
One should serve the best people, and at the proper time the middling; but one should not serve the lowest, if one desires prosperity for oneself.
प्राग्नोति वै वित्तमसद्बलेन नित्योत्थानात्प्रज्ञया पौरुषेण। न त्वेव सम्यग्लभते प्रशंसां न वृत्तमाप्नोति महाकुलानाम्
One obtains wealth through improper means, by constant effort, intelligence, and courage; but he does not rightly gain praise, nor attain the conduct of great families.
महाकुलेभ्यः स्पृहयन्ति देवा धर्मार्थनित्याश्च बहुश्रुताश्च। पृच्छामि त्वां विदुरं प्रश्नमेतं भवन्ति वै कानि महाकुलानि
The gods desire those from noble families, those devoted to righteousness and wealth, and those who are greatly learned. I ask you, Vidura, this question: what are the marks of noble families?
तपो दमो ब्रह्मवित्त्वं तितिक्षा। इज्या विवाहाः सान्त्वनं चान्नदानम्। अष्टावेते नित्यमेवं भवन्ति सतां गुणास्तानि महाकुलानि
Austerity, self-restraint, knowledge of the Brahman, endurance, sacrifice, marriage, consolation, and giving of food—these eight qualities are always found in the virtuous; these are the marks of noble families.
येषां न वृत्तं व्यथते न योनि- श्चित्तप्रसादेन चरन्ति धर्मम्। ये कीर्तिमिच्छन्ति कुले विशिष्टां त्यक्तानृतास्तानि महाकुलानि
Those whose conduct does not waver, whose lineage is unblemished, who act with clarity of mind in accordance with righteousness, who desire distinguished fame in their family, and who have abandoned falsehood—these are noble families.
अनिज्यया कुविवाहैर्वेदस्योत्सादनेन च। कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण च
Through neglect of sacrifice, improper marriages, destruction of the Vedas, and transgression against Brahmins, families lose their nobility.
देवद्रव्यनिनाशेन ब्रह्मस्वहरणेन च। कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण च
By destruction of offerings to the gods, by taking what belongs to Brahmins, and by transgression against Brahmins, families lose their nobility.
ब्राह्मणानां परिभवात्परिवादाच्च भारत। कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति न्यासापहरणेन च
Through disrespect and abuse of Brahmins, O Bharata, and by misappropriation of entrusted goods, families lose their nobility.
कुलानि समुपेताननि गोभिः पुरुषतोऽर्थतः । कुलसंख्यां न गच्छन्ति यानि हीनानि वृत्ततः
Families that have acquired cattle, people, and wealth do not attain the status of noble families if they are deficient in conduct.
वृत्ततस्त्वविहीनानि कुलान्यल्पधनान्यपि । कुलसङ्ख्यां च गच्छन्ति कर्षन्ति च महद्यशः
But families that are not deficient in conduct, even if they possess little wealth, attain the status of noble families and earn great renown.