Shloka 16

हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः

Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace

Devanagari script

यो हि धर्म समाश्रित्य हित्वा भर्तु: प्रियाप्रिये । अप्रियाण्याह पथ्यानि तेन राजा सहायवान्‌,जो धर्मका आश्रय लेकर तथा स्वामीको प्रिय लगेगा या अप्रिय--इसका विचार छोड़कर अप्रिय होनेपर भी हितकी बात कहता है, उसीसे राजाको सच्ची सहायता मिलती है

Transliteration

yo hi dharmam samāśritya hitvā bhartuḥ priyāpriye | apriyāṇy āha pathyāni tena rājā sahāyavān ||

Translation

Wer, auf das Dharma gestützt, die Sorge beiseitelässt, ob es dem Herrn gefallen oder missfallen werde, und das Heilsame ausspricht, auch wenn es unerwünscht ist—durch einen solchen gewinnt ein König wahrhaftige Hilfe.

Word by Word

यःwho

हिindeed

धर्मम्dharma, righteousness

समाश्रित्यhaving resorted to

हित्वाhaving abandoned, giving up

भर्तुःof the master/lord (husband/king)

प्रियाप्रियेin (matters of) the pleasing and the displeasing

अप्रियाणिunpleasant (things/words)

आहsays, speaks

पथ्यानिwholesome, beneficial (words)

तेनby him; through that (person)

राजाthe king

सहायवान्having a helper; truly supported

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

rājā (the king)

bhartṛ (the lord/master)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s real helper is the counselor who stands on dharma and speaks beneficial truth even when it is unwelcome, without tailoring advice to what the ruler likes to hear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is instructing the ruler on what constitutes genuine support in governance: not flattery, but dharma-grounded counsel that prioritizes the king’s welfare and the right course over personal approval.