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.
चलचित्तमनात्मानमिन्द्रियाणां वशानुगम्। अर्थाः समभिवर्तते हंसाः शुष्कं सरो यथा
When the mind is unsteady and follows the senses, objects overwhelm it just as swans flock to a dried-up lake.
अकस्मादेव कुप्यन्ति प्रसीदन्त्यनिमित्ततः । शीलमेतदसाधूनामभ्रं पारिप्लवं यथा
The wicked become angry without cause and are pleased for no reason; their nature is as fickle as clouds tossed by the wind.
सत्कृताश्च कृतार्थाश्च मित्राणां न भवन्ति ये । तान्मृतानपि क्रव्यादाः कृतघ्नान्नोपभुञ्जते
Those who, though honored and fulfilled, do not remain friends—even when dead, flesh-eating beasts will not consume such ungrateful ones.
अर्थयेदेव मित्राणि सति वाऽसति वा धने। नानर्थयन्प्रजानाति मित्राणां सारफल्गुताम्
A person seeks out friends only in times of prosperity or adversity; one who does not seek them does not understand the true worth of friendship.
सन्तापाद्भ्रश्यते रूपं सन्तापाद्भ्रश्यते बलम्। सन्तापाद्भ्रश्यते ज्ञानं सन्तापाद्व्याधिमृच्छति
From grief, beauty fades; from grief, strength declines; from grief, wisdom is lost; from grief, disease arises.
अनवाप्यं च शोकेन शरीरं चोपतप्यते। अमित्राश्च प्रहृष्यन्ति मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः
Unattainable desires burn the body with sorrow; enemies rejoice—do not let your mind dwell in grief.
पुनर्नरो म्रियते जायते च पुनर्नरो हीयते वर्धते च। पुनर्नरो याचति याच्यते च पुनर्नरः शोचति शोच्यते च
A person dies and is born again; a person declines and grows; a person begs and is begged from; a person grieves and is grieved for.
सुखं च दुःखं च भवाभवौ च लाभालाभौ मरणं जीवितं च। पर्यायशः सर्वमेते स्पृशन्ति तस्माद्धीरो न च हृष्येन्न सोचेत्
Happiness and sorrow, existence and non-existence, gain and loss, death and life—all these touch everyone in turn; therefore, the wise should neither exult nor despair.
चलानि हीमानि षडिन्द्रियाणि तेषां यद्यद्वर्धते यत्रयत्र। ततस्ततः स्रवते बुद्धिरस्य च्छिद्रोदकुम्भादिव नित्यमम्भः
Indeed, the six senses are unstable; as each one grows stronger in its domain, so too does the mind flow after it, just as water constantly leaks from a pot with holes.
तनुरुद्धः शिखी राजा मिथ्योपचरितो मया। मन्दानां मम पुत्राणां युद्धेनान्तं करिष्यति
The king, restrained and fiery, has been falsely honored by me; through battle, he will bring an end to my foolish sons.