Shloka 36

Devanagari script

सारथिं चास्य दयितमपहस्तेन जध्निवान्‌ । धर्मात्मा विदुरस्तेषां पार्थानां प्रददौ मतिम्‌,दुर्योधनने भीमसेनके प्रिय सारथिको हाथसे गला घोंटकर मार डाला। उस समय भी धर्मात्मा विदुरने उन कुन्तीपुत्रोंकी यही सलाह दी कि वे चुपचाप सब कुछ सहन कर लें

Transliteration

sārathiṁ cāsya dayitam apahastena jadhnivān | dharmātmā viduras teṣāṁ pārthānāṁ pradadau matim |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: He also killed his beloved charioteer with his own hand. At that time, the righteous Vidura counseled the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas) to endure everything in silence.

Word by Word

सारथिम्charioteer

चand

अस्यof him

दयितम्beloved, dear

अपहस्तेनwith (his) hand/forearm (lit. with the hand)

जध्निवान्killed, slew

धर्मात्माrighteous-souled

विदुरःVidura

तेषाम्of them, to them (contextual)

पार्थानाम्of the sons of Pritha (Pandavas)

प्रददौgave, bestowed

मतिम्counsel, advice, thought

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vidura

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas / sons of Pṛthā)

sārathi (charioteer)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura’s counsel highlights strategic forbearance: when dharma is threatened by an unjust and powerful adversary, restraint and silent endurance can be a protective, time-buying response—preserving life and future agency rather than provoking immediate destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

A violent act is reported—someone kills his own dear charioteer by hand. In that tense context, Vidura advises the Pāṇḍavas (sons of Kuntī) to endure quietly, implying the court environment is dangerous and open resistance would be perilous.