Shloka 117

Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition

Devanagari script

समैर्विवाहं कुरुते न हीनै: समै: सख्यं व्यवहारं कथां च । गुणैविशिष्टांश्न पुरो दधाति विपश्चितस्तस्य नया: सुनीता:

Transliteration

samair vivāhaṃ kurute na hīnaiḥ samaiḥ sakhyaṃ vyavahāraṃ kathāṃ ca | guṇair viśiṣṭānś ca puro dadhāti vipaścitas tasya nayaḥ sunītaḥ ||

Translation

A wise person forms marriage alliances with equals, not with those of inferior standing; with equals he also cultivates friendship, conducts dealings, and holds conversation. And he consistently gives precedence to those who excel in virtues. Such a discerning person’s policy is well-guided and truly sound.

Word by Word

• समैः: with equals
• समैः: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विवाहम्: marriage
• विवाहम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरुते: does/makes
• कुरुते: कर्ता
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• हीनैः: with inferior (persons)
• हीनैः: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• समैः: with equals
• समैः: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सख्यम्: friendship
• सख्यम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्यवहारम्: dealings/conduct
• व्यवहारम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कथाम्: conversation/talk
• कथाम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• गुणैः: by virtues/qualities
• गुणैः: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विशिष्टान्: distinguished/superior (persons)
• विशिष्टान्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from वि+शिष्/शास् in sense 'distinguished')
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पुरः: in front/foremost
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)

• दधाति: places/sets
• दधाति: कर्ता
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विपश्चितः: of the wise man
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• नयाः: policies/ways of conduct
• नयाः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सुनीताः: well-guided/excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुनीत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from सु+नी 'well-led')
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Choose associations wisely: form marital, friendly, and transactional relationships with equals, avoid degrading companionship with the unworthy, and honor those who are superior in virtue by giving them precedence—this is sound nīti (prudent ethical policy).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is offering counsel in the Udyoga Parva, articulating principles of nīti for right conduct and prudent social alignment as tensions move toward the Kurukṣetra conflict.