Shloka 44

Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition

Devanagari script

एकयाद्े विनिश्िव्य त्री क्षतुर्भिवेशे कुरु । पजञ्च जित्वा विदित्वा षट्‌ सप्त हित्वा सुखी भव,एक (बुद्धि)-से दो (कर्तव्य और अकर्तव्य)का निश्चय करके चार (साम, दान, भेद, दण्ड)-से तीन (शत्रु, मित्र तथा उदासीन)-को वशमें कीजिये। पाँच (इन्द्रियों)-को जीतकर छः (सन्धि, विग्रह, यान, आसन, द्वैधीभाव और समाश्रयरूप) गुणोंको जानकर तथा सात (स्त्री, जूआ, मृगया, मद्य, कठोर वचन, दण्डकी कठोरता और अन्यायसे धनोपार्जन)-को छोड़कर सुखी हो जाइये

Transliteration

ekayā buddhyā viniścitya dve kartavyākartavye | caturbhiḥ sāmadānabhedadaṇḍaiḥ trīn śatrumitrāsīnān vaśe kuru | pañcendriyāṇi jitvā ṣaḍguṇān (sandhivigrahayānāsanadvaidhībhāvasamāśrayān) viditvā sapta tyaktvā sukhī bhava ||

Translation

Vidura sprach: Mit einem einzigen, festen Verstand entscheide zuerst über die zwei Dinge: was zu tun ist und was nicht zu tun ist. Dann bringe mit den vier Mitteln der Staatskunst—Ausgleich, Gaben, Spaltung und Strafe—die drei Arten (Feind, Verbündeter und Neutraler) unter Kontrolle. Bezwinge die fünf Sinne; erkenne die sechs Maßnahmen der Regierungskunst (Frieden, Krieg, Aufbruch, Verweilen, Doppelpolitik und Schutzsuche); und meide die sieben verderblichen Laster—Frauen als Laster, Glücksspiel, Jagd, Rauschmittel, harte Rede, übermäßige Strenge im Strafen und Reichtumserwerb durch Unrecht. So wirst du glücklich leben.

Word by Word

एकयाby one (i.e., with one)

बुद्ध्याwith intellect

विनिश्चित्यhaving ascertained/decided

द्वेtwo

कर्तव्येwhat ought to be done

अकर्तव्येwhat ought not to be done

चतुर्भिःby four (means)

उपायैःby means/strategies

त्रीन्three

वशेin control/under sway

कुरुdo; bring (them) under control

पञ्चfive

जित्वाhaving conquered

षट्six

विदित्वाhaving known

सप्तseven

हित्वाhaving abandoned

सुखीhappy

भवbecome

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

the four upāyas (sāma, dāna, bheda, daṇḍa)

the three categories (enemy, friend, neutral)

the five senses

the six measures of policy (sandhi, vigraha, yāna, āsana, dvaidhībhāva, samāśraya)

the seven vices (women-as-addiction, gambling, hunting, intoxicants, harsh speech, excessive severity in punishment, unjust acquisition of wealth)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura teaches a compact program for ethical and effective leadership: (1) clear moral discernment (duty vs. non-duty), (2) prudent use of the four political means (conciliation, gifts, division, punishment) to handle enemies, allies, and neutrals, (3) mastery over the senses, (4) knowledge of the six strategic options of governance, and (5) renunciation of seven destructive addictions and injustices—leading to stable happiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, as tensions rise toward the Kurukṣetra war, Vidura offers counsel on conduct and governance. This verse is part of his nīti-instruction, presenting numbered principles (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven) to guide a ruler or decision-maker toward dharmic policy and personal discipline.