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Shloka 74

Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

अभिवादनशीलस्य नित्यं वृद्धोपसेविन: । चत्वारि सम्प्रवर्धन्ते कीर्तिरायुर्यशो बलम्‌

abhivādanaśīlasya nityaṁ vṛddhopasevinaḥ | catvāri sampravardhante kīrtir āyur yaśo balam ||

যে ব্যক্তি সর্বদা প্রণাম করে এবং নিত্য বৃদ্ধজনের সেবা করে, তার চারটি কল্যাণ ক্রমে বৃদ্ধি পায়—সুনাম, আয়ু, যশ ও বল।

अभिवादनशीलस्यof one who is habitually respectful (given to salutations)
अभिवादनशीलस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअभिवादनशील
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
नित्यम्always
नित्यम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्यम्
वृद्धोपसेविनःof one who serves elders
वृद्धोपसेविनः:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootवृद्धोपसेविन्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
चत्वारिfour (things)
चत्वारि:
Karta
TypeAdjective (Numeral)
Rootचतुर्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
सम्प्रवर्धन्तेincrease / grow
सम्प्रवर्धन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्+प्र+वृध्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Atmanepada
कीर्तिःfame
कीर्तिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकीर्ति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
आयुःlifespan
आयुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआयुस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
यशःrenown / glory
यशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयशस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
बलम्strength
बलम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
E
elders (vṛddhāḥ)
G
gurujana (implied: respected seniors/teachers)

Educational Q&A

Regularly offering respectful salutations and serving elders is presented as a practical dharmic discipline that cultivates four forms of well-being—reputation (kīrti), longevity (āyuḥ), honorable fame (yaśas), and strength (balam).

In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura speaks moral instruction (Vidura-nīti), emphasizing proper conduct and reverence toward elders as a foundation for personal and social stability amid the rising conflict.