Shloka 16

Devanagari script

स्वयं धनुर्द्वारि निधाय मायां र्भ्रातु: पुरो मर्मसु ताडितोऽपि । स इत्थमत्युल्बणकर्णबाणै- र्गतव्यथोऽयादुरु मानयान: ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

svayaṁ dhanur dvāri nidhāya māyāṁ bhrātuḥ puro marmasu tāḍito ’pi sa ittham atyulbaṇa-karṇa-bāṇair gata-vyatho ’yād uru mānayānaḥ

Translation

Though pierced by harsh arrows through his ears and wounded to the very core of his heart, Vidura set his bow at the doorway and left his brother’s palace. He did not lament, for he accepted the workings of māyā, the external energy, as the supreme dispensation.

Synonyms

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्वयंकर्तृत्वे (reflexive adverb)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• dvāri: at the door
• dvāri: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• nidhāya: having placed
• nidhāya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having placed/laid down’

• māyām: deception/illusion
• māyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• bhrātuḥ: of (his) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• puraḥ: in front
• puraḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; पुरतः-अर्थे (adverb: in front)

• marmasu: in the vital spots
• marmasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• tāḍitaḥ: struck
• tāḍitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāḍita (कृदन्त; √tāḍ (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘struck’

• api: even though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (concessive particle: even/although)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• ati-ulbaṇa-karṇa-bāṇaiḥ: by extremely fierce ear-arrows
• ati-ulbaṇa-karṇa-bāṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + ulbaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; विशेषणपूर्वपदसमास-प्रायः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘by very fierce ear-arrows’

• gata-vyathaḥ: free from pain
• gata-vyathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam) + vyathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘whose pain has gone’

• ayāt: went
• ayāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/Imperfect aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘went’

• uru: greatly
• uru: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; परिमाण/अत्यर्थे (adverb: greatly)

• mānayānaḥ: showing respect / deeming
• mānayānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānay (धातु; causative of √man)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present participle), आत्मनेपद-भाव, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘honouring/considering’

Purport

A pure devotee of the Lord is never perturbed by an awkward position created by the external energy of the Lord. In Bhagavad-gītā (3.27) it is stated:

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remaining unaffected by harsh words or attacks?

This verse shows a saintly devotee’s steadiness: even when struck in vital places by fierce arrows, he remains free from pain and does not retaliate, maintaining dignity and inner composure.

Why did Vidura leave after being mistreated by his brother Dhritarashtra?

Vidura, acting with spiritual maturity, chose detachment over conflict—leaving peacefully and even honoring his brother, illustrating dharma and freedom from ego-driven reaction.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when facing insults at home or work?

Practice restraint and non-reactivity: step away from toxic conflict, keep self-respect without revenge, and respond from principle and compassion rather than wounded pride.