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Shloka 246

Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma

जनान्‌ यो5भिभवत्यन्यान्‌ कर्मणा हि स वै पुमान्‌ जो शास्त्रज्ञान, तपस्या, धन-सम्पत्ति अथवा पराक्रमके द्वारा दूसरे लोगोंको पराजित कर देता है, वह उसी श्रेष्ठ कर्मके द्वारा पुरुष कहलाता है

janān yo 'bhibhavaty anyān karmaṇā hi sa vai pumān | yaḥ śāstrajñānena tapasā dhana-sampattyā athavā parākramena dvijān lokān parājayati sa tenaiva śreṣṭha-karmaṇā pumān ucyate ||

قال فايُو: «إنما يُسمّى الرجل حقًّا من غلب غيره بفعله النافذ. سواء قهر الناس بإحكامه للشاسترا (العلوم المأثورة)، أو بالتقشّف والنسك، أو بالمال والثراء، أو بالبأس والشجاعة—فبذلك الامتياز في العمل يُعرَف أنه “رجل”، أي من تُعرِّفه القدرة المُنجَزة لا مجرد المولد ولا الدعوى.»

जनान्people
जनान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभिभवतिovercomes, defeats
अभिभवति:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-भू
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Indicative
अन्यान्others
अन्यान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कर्मणाby action/deed
कर्मणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वैcertainly
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
पुमान्a man
पुमान्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुमांस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva (Wind-god)

Educational Q&A

True worth is measured by effective, excellent action (karma) and demonstrated capability—whether expressed through learning, austerity, wealth, or valor—rather than by mere status or assertion.

Vāyudeva delivers a moral definition of ‘pumān’ (a true man/person of worth), emphasizing that superiority is established through concrete excellence—knowledge, tapas, prosperity, or heroic prowess—within the ethical discourse of the Udyoga Parva.