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.
वृत्तं यत्नेन संरक्षेद्वित्तमेति च याति च। अक्षीणो वित्ततः क्षीणो वृत्ततस्तु हतो हतः
One should protect conduct with effort; wealth comes and goes. One who is diminished in wealth is not destroyed, but one who is diminished in conduct is utterly ruined.
गोभिः पशुभिरश्वैश्च कृष्या च सुसमृद्धया। कुलानि न प्ररोहन्ति यानि हीनानि वृत्ततः
Even with cattle, livestock, horses, and abundant agriculture, families do not flourish if they are deficient in conduct.
मा नः कुले वैरकृत्कश्चिदस्तु राजा बद्धो मा परस्वापहारी । मित्रद्रोही नैकृतिकोऽनृती वा पूर्वाशी वा पितृदेवातिथिभ्यः
Let there be no one in our family who causes enmity, who is imprisoned, who steals others' property, who betrays friends, who acts wickedly or falsely, or who neglects ancestors, gods, or guests.
यश्च नो ब्राह्मणान्हन्याद्यश्च नो ब्राह्णणान् द्विषेत्। न नः स समितिं गच्छेद्यश्च नो निर्वपेत्कृषिम्
He who kills Brahmins, who hates Brahmins, who does not join our assembly, or who does not sow crops for us—let him not be among us.
तृणानि भूमिरुदकं वाक्व्रतुर्थी च सूनृता। सतामेतानि गेहेषु नोच्छिद्यन्ते कदाचन
Grass, earth, water, speech, hospitality, and truthfulness—these are never lacking in the homes of the virtuous.
श्रद्धया परया राजन्नुपनीतानि सत्कृतिम्। प्रवृत्तानि महाप्राज्ञ धर्मिणां पुण्यकर्मिणाम्
With supreme faith, O King, these are brought forth and honored; they are practiced by the wise, by the righteous, and by those who perform virtuous deeds.
सूक्ष्मोऽपि भारं नृपते स्यन्दनो वै शक्तो वोढुं न तथाऽन्ये महीजाः । एवं युक्ता भारसहा भवन्ति महाकुलीना न तथान्ये मनुष्याः
Even a chariot, O King, can bear a subtle weight, but not so others born of the earth. In this way, those of noble families are capable of bearing burdens; others are not so among men.
न तन्मित्रं यस्य कोपाद्बिभेति यद्वा मित्रं शङ्कितेनोपचर्यम्। यस्मिन्मित्रे पितरीवाश्वसीत तद्वै मित्रं सङ्गतानीतराणि
That is not a friend whose anger causes fear, nor is one a friend who is treated with suspicion. One should trust a friend as one trusts a father; such a friend is truly united, not otherwise.
यः कश्चिदप्यसंबद्धो मित्रसावेन वर्तते। स एव बन्धुस्तन्मित्रं सा गतिस्तत्परायणम्
Whoever, though unrelated, acts with the spirit of friendship, he alone is kin; that friend is the true companion and refuge.
चलचित्तस्य वै पुंसो वृद्धाननुपसेवतः। पारिप्लवमतेर्नित्यमध्रुवो मित्रसङ्ग्रहः
For a man whose mind is fickle and who does not serve elders, the gathering of friends is always unstable and uncertain.