अन्यो धनं प्रेतगतस्य भुङ्क्ते वयांसि चाग्निश्च शरीरधातून्। द्वाभ्यामयं सह गच्छत्यमुत्र पुण्येन पापेन च वेष्ट्यमानः
Another enjoys the wealth of the departed; birds and fire consume the body's elements; only merit and sin accompany a person to the next world, enveloping him.
उसृज्य विनिवर्तन्ते ज्ञातयः सुहृदः सुताः। अपुष्पानफलान्वृक्षान्यथा तात पतत्रिणः
Relatives, friends, and sons turn away and depart, just as birds leave trees that bear neither flowers nor fruit, O dear one.
अग्नौ प्रास्तं तु पुरुषं कर्मान्वेति स्वयं कृतम्। तस्मात्तु पुरुषो यत्नाद्धर्मं सञ्चिनुयाच्छनैः
The actions performed by a person, when offered into fire, follow him; therefore, a person should diligently accumulate righteousness, little by little.
अस्माल्लोकादूर्ध्वममुष्य चाधो महत्तमस्तिष्ठति ह्यन्धकारम्। तद्वै महामोहनमिन्द्रियाणां बुद्ध्यस्व मा त्वां प्रलभेत राजन्
Above this world and below it lies a vast darkness; it is the great delusion of the senses—be wise, O King, let it not ensnare you.
इदं वचः शक्ष्यसि चेद्यथाव- न्निशम्य सर्वं प्रतिपत्तुमेव। यशः परं प्राप्स्यसि जीवलोके भयं नचामुत्र नचेह तेऽस्ति
If you are able to fully understand and act upon these words as spoken, you will attain supreme fame among the living, and neither here nor hereafter will you have fear.
आत्मा नदी भारत पुण्यतीर्था सत्योदया धृतिकूला दयोर्मिः। तस्यां स्नातः पूयते पुण्यकर्मा पुण्यो ह्यात्मा नित्यमलोभ एव
The self is a river, O Bharata, with holy fords, truth as its sunrise, firmness as its banks, and compassion as its waves; one who bathes in it, performing virtuous deeds, is purified, for the self is ever pure and free from greed.
कामक्रोधग्राहवतीं पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम्। नावं धृतिमयीं कृत्वा जन्मदुर्गाणि संतर
Make a boat of firmness and cross the river whose waters are the five senses, and whose crocodiles are desire and anger, thereby overcoming the dangers of birth.
प्रज्ञावृद्धं धर्मवृद्धं स्वबन्धुं विद्यावृद्धं वयसा चापि वृद्धम् । कार्याकार्ये पूजयित्वा प्रसाद्य यः संपृच्छेन्न स मुह्येत्कदाचित्
One who, after honoring and pleasing a relative advanced in wisdom, righteousness, learning, or age, asks about what should or should not be done, will never be confused.
धृत्या शिश्रोदरं रक्षेत्पाणिपादं च चक्षुषा । चक्षुःश्रोत्रे च मनसा मनो वाचं च कर्मणा
With firmness, protect the mouth of a child, the hands and feet with the eyes, the eyes and ears with the mind, and the mind and speech with actions.
नित्योदकी नित्ययज्ञोपवीती नित्यस्वाध्यायी पतितान्नवर्जी । सत्यं ब्रुवन्गुरवे कर्म कुर्व- न्न ब्राह्मणश्र्यवते ब्रह्मलोकात्
Always pure, always wearing the sacred thread, always studying, avoiding fallen food, speaking truth to the teacher, and performing duties—such a Brahmin attains the world of Brahma.
अधीत्य वेदान्परिसंस्तीर्य चाग्नी- निष्ट्वा यज्ञैः पालयित्वा प्रजाश्च। गोब्रह्मणार्थं शस्त्रपूतान्तरात्मा हतः सङ्ग्रामे क्षत्रियः स्वर्गमेति
A Kshatriya, after studying the Vedas, establishing fires, performing sacrifices, protecting the people, and, with a mind purified by weapons for the sake of cows and Brahmins, dying in battle, attains heaven.
वैश्योऽधीत्य ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियांश्च धनैः काले संविभज्याश्रितांश्च। त्रेतापूतं धूममाघ्राय पुण्यं प्रेत्य स्वर्गे दिव्यसुखानि भुङ्क्ते
A Vaishya, after studying Brahmins and Kshatriyas, distributing wealth to dependents at the proper time, and inhaling smoke purified by the Treta fire, enjoys heavenly, divine pleasures after death.
ब्रह्म क्षत्रं वैश्यवर्णं च शूद्रः क्रमेणैतान्न्यायतः पूजयानः। तुष्टेष्वेतेष्वव्यथो दग्धपाप- स्त्यक्त्वा देहं स्वर्गसुखानि भुङ्क्ते
A Shudra, honoring the Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaishya castes in order and according to propriety, when they are pleased, is free from distress and sin, and after leaving the body, enjoys heavenly happiness.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्यैष धर्मस्तवोक्तो हेतुं चानुब्रुवतो मे निबोध। क्षात्राद्धर्माद्धीयते पाण्डुपुत्र- स्तं त्वं राजन्राजधर्मे नियुङ्क्ष
This is the duty of the four castes as told to you; listen also to the reason as I explain it. The son of Pandu is led by the duty of Kshatriyas; therefore, O King, appoint him to the royal duty.
एवमेतद्यथा त्वं मामनुशासनि नित्यदा। ममापि च मतिः सौम्य भवत्येवं यथात्थ माम्
Thus it is, as you always instruct me; gentle one, my mind too becomes as you wish when you speak to me.
सा तु बुद्धिः कृताप्येवं पाण्डवान्प्रति मे सदा। दुर्योधनं समासाद्य पुनर्विपरिवर्तते
Even when my mind is thus resolved regarding the Pandavas, upon encountering Duryodhana, it turns again.
न दिष्टमभ्यतिक्रान्तुं शक्यं भूतेन केनचित्। दिष्टमेव ध्रुवं मन्ये पौरुषं तु निरर्थकम्
No being can transgress what is destined; destiny alone is certain, I consider effort to be fruitless.
अनुक्तं यदि ते किञ्चिद्वाचा विदुर विद्यते। तन्मे शुश्रूषतो ब्रूहि विचित्राणि हि भाषसे
If there is anything you have not yet spoken, O Vidura, tell it to me as I am eager to listen; for you speak in many ways.
धृतराष्ट्र कुमारो वै यः पुराणः सनातनः। तनत्सुजातः प्रोवाच मृत्युर्नास्तीति भारत
Dhritarashtra's son, who is ancient and eternal, that is Sujata, spoke, saying, 'There is no death,' O Bharata.
स ते गुह्यान्प्रकाशांश्च सर्वान्हृदयसंश्रयान्। प्रवक्ष्यति महाराज सर्वबुद्धिमतां वरः
He will tell you all the secret and open matters that dwell in the heart, O great king, for he is foremost among the wise.
किं त्वं न वेद तद्भूयो यन्मे ब्रूयात्सनातनः। त्वमेव विदुर ब्रूहि प्रज्ञाशेषोऽस्ति चेत्तव
Do you not know again that which the eternal one would tell me? You alone, Vidura, should speak, for if you possess complete wisdom.
शूद्रयोनावहं जातो नातोऽन्यद्वक्तुमुत्सहे। कुमारस्य तु याबुद्धिर्वेद तां शाश्वतीमहम्
I was born in a Shudra womb, so I do not dare to speak anything else; but the understanding that the prince has of the Veda, that I hold as eternal.
ब्राह्मीं हि योनिमापन्नः सगुह्यमपि यो वदेत्। न तेन गर्ह्यो देवानां तस्मादेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
For one who has attained a Brahmin birth and speaks even what is secret, he is not to be blamed by the gods; therefore, I say this to you.
ब्रवीहि विदुर त्वं मे पुराणं तं सनातनम् । कथमेतेन देहेन स्यादिहैव समागमः
Speak to me, Vidura, that ancient, eternal teaching: how could union occur here with this body?
चिन्तयामास विदुरस्तभृषिं शंसितव्रतम्। स च तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा दर्शयामास भारत
Vidura contemplated the sage, renowned for his vows; and he, knowing what was thought, revealed it, O Bharata.
स चैनं प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा । सुखोपविष्टं विश्रान्तमथैनं विदुरोऽब्रवीत्
He accepted him according to the prescribed rite; when he was comfortably seated and rested, Vidura spoke to him.
भगवन्संशयः कश्चिद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य मानसः । यो न शक्यो मया वक्तुं त्वमस्मै वक्तुमर्हसि
O revered one, there is a certain doubt in Dhritarashtra's mind, which I am unable to express; you should speak to him.
यं श्रत्वाऽयं मनुष्येन्द्रः सर्वदुःखातिगो भवेत्
Hearing which, this king of men would become free from all suffering.
लाभालाभौ प्रियद्वेष्यौ यथैनं न जरान्तकौ। विषहेरन्भयामर्षौ श्रुत्पिपासे मदोद्भवौ । अरतिश्चैव तन्द्री च कामक्रोधौ क्षयोदयौ
Gain and loss, pleasure and displeasure, so that neither old age nor death could overcome him; fear and anger, thirst and hunger born of pride; as well as discontent and lethargy, desire and wrath, decay and growth.
ततो राजा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी संपूज्य वाक्यं विदुरेरितं तत्। सनत्सुजातं रहिते महात्मा पप्रच्छ बुद्धिं परमां बुभूषन्
Then King Dhritarashtra, wise, having honored the words spoken by Vidura, questioned Sanatsujata, the great soul, in private, desiring supreme understanding.