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Shloka 84

Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

यत्‌ पृथिव्यां ब्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशव: स्त्रिय: । नालमेकस्य तत्‌ सर्वमिति पश्यन्‌ न मुहृति

yat pṛthivyāṃ brīhiyavaṃ hiraṇyaṃ paśavaḥ striyaḥ | nālam ekasya tat sarvam iti paśyan na muhṛti ||

Vidura lehrt, dass all der Reis und die Gerste, das Gold, das Vieh und selbst die Frauen, die es auf dieser Erde gibt, nicht ausreichen, um das Verlangen auch nur eines einzigen Menschen zu stillen. Wer diese Wahrheit klar erkennt, verfällt nicht der Verblendung, denn er weiß, dass Begierde ihrem Wesen nach unersättlich ist, und zügelt sich daher auf dem Pfad des Dharma.

यत्whatever/that which
यत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
पृथिव्याम्on/in the earth
पृथिव्याम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपृथिवी
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
ब्रीहियवम्rice and barley (grain)
ब्रीहियवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्रीहियव
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
हिरण्यम्gold
हिरण्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहिरण्य
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
पशवःcattle/animals
पशवः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपशु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
स्त्रियःwomen
स्त्रियः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अलम्enough/sufficient
अलम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअलम्
एकस्यof one (person)
एकस्य:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
सर्वम्all/entire
सर्वम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
इतिthus (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
पश्यन्seeing/considering
पश्यन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपश्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मुह्यतिis deluded/gets confused
मुह्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootमुह्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
P
pṛthivī (earth)
B
brīhi (rice)
Y
yava (barley)
H
hiraṇya (gold)
P
paśu (cattle/animals)
S
strī (women)

Educational Q&A

Desire is limitless: even the totality of worldly goods cannot fully satisfy a single person. Recognizing this, a wise person avoids moha (delusion) and practices restraint, choosing dharma over endless acquisition.

In Udyoga Parva, Vidura is giving moral counsel (Vidura-nīti) during the tense pre-war negotiations. He warns against greed and attachment, urging clear discernment so that leaders do not act from delusion and thereby invite ruin.