Shloka 58

उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)

Devanagari script

वश्येन्द्रियं जितात्मानं धृतदण्डं विकारिषु | परीक्ष्य कारिणं धीरमत्यन्तं श्रीनिषेवते,इन्द्रियों तथा मनको जीतनेवाले, अपराधियोंको दण्ड देनेवाले और जाँच-परखकर काम करनेवाले धीर पुरुषकी लक्ष्मी अत्यन्त सेवा करती है

Transliteration

vaśyendriyaṁ jitātmānaṁ dhṛtadaṇḍaṁ vikāriṣu | parīkṣya kāriṇaṁ dhīram atyantaṁ śrī niṣevate ||

Translation

Vidura sprach: Wohlstand (Śrī) dient mit unerschütterlicher Treue dem standhaften, besonnenen Mann, der seine Sinne bezwungen, sich selbst überwunden, Übeltäter bei Bedarf bestraft und erst nach sorgfältiger Prüfung handelt.

Word by Word

• वश्येन्द्रियम्: having the senses under control
• वश्येन्द्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्येन्द्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जितात्मानम्: self-conquered
• जितात्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धृतदण्डम्: holding/maintaining punishment (the rod of discipline)
• धृतदण्डम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतदण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विकारिषु: among offenders / wrongdoers
• विकारिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-ईक्ष्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Active

• कारिणम्: one who acts (doer)
• कारिणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धीरम्: steadfast, wise
• धीरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अत्यन्तम्: exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्त

• श्रीः: fortune, prosperity (Lakṣmī)
• श्रीः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• निषेवते: serves, attends upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-सेव्
• Form: Lat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Middle

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Śrī (Lakṣmī/Prosperity)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Prosperity is not random: it naturally follows the person who practices self-mastery, enforces justice against wrongdoing, and acts only after careful inquiry. Vidura links inner discipline and ethical governance with stable well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he presents a principle of statecraft and personal ethics: the ideal leader (or wise person) restrains the senses, remains inwardly victorious, punishes offenders appropriately, and makes decisions after scrutiny—thereby attracting Śrī (prosperity).