Shloka 16

धृतराष्ट्रस्य सत्कारः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Honored in the Post-war Court

Devanagari script

सामन्तेभ्य: प्रियाण्यस्य कार्याणि सुबहून्यपि । प्राप्यन्ते<र्थ: सुलघुभि: सुनयाद्‌ विदुरस्य वै

Transliteration

sāmantebhyaḥ priyāṇy asya kāryāṇi subahūny api | prāpyante 'rthāḥ sulaghubhiḥ sunayād vidurasya vai ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Owing to Vidura’s sound policy and prudent statecraft, many undertakings dear to him were accomplished through the frontier vassal-kings, and the needed resources were obtained with very little expenditure. The verse highlights how ethical, intelligent counsel can achieve desired ends efficiently, without waste or coercion.

Word by Word

• सामन्तेभ्यः: from the vassal/border kings
• सामन्तेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्त
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• प्रियाणि: dear, desired
• प्रियाणि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• अस्य: of him (Vidura)
• अस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कार्याणि: tasks, affairs
• कार्याणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• सुबहूनि: very many
• सुबहूनि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुबहु
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• प्राप्यन्ते: are obtained/achieved
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada (Passive sense), Third, Plural

• अर्थाः: resources/means (expenses)
• अर्थाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुलघुभिः: with very small (means/cost)
• सुलघुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुलघु
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सुनयात्: from good policy/wise conduct
• सुनयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + नय
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• विदुरस्य: of Vidura
• विदुरस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदुर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vidura
• sāmantas (frontier/feudatory kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sound, ethical policy (su-naya) enables a leader to accomplish many desired aims efficiently—securing cooperation and resources with minimal cost, avoiding waste and harsh measures.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Vidura’s effectiveness: through wise counsel and diplomacy, Vidura could get many important matters accomplished via the neighboring/feudatory rulers, and obtain necessary means with little expenditure.