Shloka 11

Devanagari script

तथैव विदुरं ब्रूया: कुरूणां मन्त्रधारिणम्‌ | अयुद्ध॑ सौम्य भाषस्व हितकामो युधिष्िरे,संजय! इसी प्रकार कौरवोंके मन्त्री विदुरजीसे कहना--'सौम्य! आप युद्ध न होनेकी ही सलाह दें; क्योंकि आप युधिष्ठिरका हित चाहनेवाले हैं”

Transliteration

tathaiva viduraṃ brūyāḥ kurūṇāṃ mantradhāriṇam | ayuddhaṃ saumya bhāṣasva hitakāmo yudhiṣṭhire saṃjaya |

Translation

In the same way, convey to Vidura as well—the counsellor who bears the counsel of the Kurus: “O gentle one, speak in favor of non-war. For you are one who seeks Yudhiṣṭhira’s welfare, O Saṃjaya.”

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

एवindeed, just

विदुरम्Vidura (as object)

ब्रूयाःyou should say/tell

कुरूणाम्of the Kurus

मन्त्रधारिणम्counsellor, minister (lit. bearer of counsel)

अयुद्धम्non-war, absence of battle

सौम्यO gentle one

भाषस्वspeak, say

हितकामःdesiring the welfare (of)

युधिष्ठिरस्यof Yudhiṣṭhira

संजयO Sañjaya

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Vidura

Kuru(s)

Saṃjaya

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?

Righteous leadership prioritizes peace and the welfare of all; even when conflict looms, one should seek counsel that restrains violence (ayuddha) and aligns with dharma and genuine well-wishing (hitakāma).

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Saṃjaya to convey a message to Vidura, the Kuru counsellor, urging him to advise against war. The appeal relies on Vidura’s reputation as a truthful, dharma-guided well-wisher of Yudhiṣṭhira.