Shloka 60

Devanagari script

एतान्यनिगृहीतानि व्यापादयितुमप्यलम्‌ । अविधेया इवादान्ता हया: पथि कुसारथिम्‌,शिक्षा न पाये हुए तथा काबूमें न आनेवाले घोड़े जैसे मूर्ख सारथिको मार्गमें मार गिराते हैं, वैसे ही ये इन्द्रियाँ वशमें न रहनेपर पुरुषको मार डालनेमें भी समर्थ होती हैं

Transliteration

etāny anigṛhītāni vyāpādayitum apy alam | avidheyā ivādāntā hayāḥ pathi kusārathim ||

Translation

Vidura spricht: Diese Sinne sind, wenn man sie ungebändigt lässt, mächtig genug, selbst einen Menschen zu vernichten. Wie untrainierte, unlenkbare Pferde auf dem Weg einen unfähigen Wagenlenker zu Boden werfen und töten können, so stürzen auch die Sinne, wenn sie nicht gezügelt werden, den Menschen ins Verderben.

Word by Word

एतानिthese

अनिगृहीतानिunrestrained, not held in check

व्यापादयितुम्to kill, to destroy

अपिeven, also

अलम्able, sufficient (enough) (with infinitive)

अविधेयाःunmanageable, not obedient

इवlike, as if

अदान्ताःuntrained, untamed

हयाःhorses

पथिon the road, in the way

कुसारथिम्a bad charioteer

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

senses (indriyas, implied)

horses (hayāḥ)

charioteer (sārathi)

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?

Uncontrolled senses are inherently dangerous; without restraint and training they can ruin a person. Ethical life (dharma) requires indriya-nigraha—mastery over impulses—just as safe travel requires trained horses and a competent charioteer.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel (nīti) during Udyoga Parva, he uses a vivid analogy: untrained horses can kill a poor charioteer on the road; likewise, the senses, if not restrained, can destroy a man. The verse functions as a warning within his broader instruction on prudent, disciplined conduct.