Mahabharata 1.204.24 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 204, Shloka 24

Tilottamā, Sunda–Upasunda, and the Pāṇḍava Samaya (Ādi Parva 204)

Devanagari script

तेषामनुग्रहश्चायं सर्वेषां चैव न: कुले । जीवितं च परं श्रेय: क्षत्रस्यथ च विवर्धनम्‌

Transliteration

teṣām anugrahaś cāyaṃ sarveṣāṃ caiva naḥ kule | jīvitaṃ ca paraṃ śreyaḥ kṣatrasyātha ca vivardhanam ||

Translation

Vidura sprach: „Diese Gunst, die man ihnen erweist, wird in unserem ganzen Geschlecht das Leben selbst bewahren, das höchste Wohl bringen und den Wohlstand wie auch das Ansehen der Kṣatriya-Ordnung mehren.“

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अनुग्रहः: favor, grace
• अनुग्रहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• नः: of us, our
• नः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• कुले: in the family/clan
• कुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• जीवितम्: life, living
• जीवितम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• परम्: highest, supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेयः: welfare, the best good
• श्रेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• क्षत्रस्य: of the kshatra/warrior order
• क्षत्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: and then/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विवर्धनम्: increase, prosperity, advancement
• विवर्धनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवर्धन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• kula (the Kuru lineage implied)
• kṣatra (kṣatriya order/royal power)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura frames compassion and timely concession as political and moral prudence: a single act of goodwill can protect the dynasty’s very survival, secure the highest welfare, and strengthen legitimate royal order (kṣatra) rather than weaken it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is counseling the Kuru side that showing favor to the concerned party (contextually, the Pandavas) is not merely kindness but a strategic and dharmic act that preserves the family and promotes the stability and growth of kṣatriya rule.