Shloka 58

Devanagari script

वश्येन्द्रियं जितात्मानं धृतदण्डं विकारिषु | परीक्ष्य कारिणं धीरमत्यन्तं श्रीनिषेवते,इन्द्रियों तथा मनको जीतनेवाले, अपराधियोंको दण्ड देनेवाले और जाँच-परखकर काम करनेवाले धीर पुरुषकी लक्ष्मी अत्यन्त सेवा करती है

Transliteration

vaśyendriyaṁ jitātmānaṁ dhṛtadaṇḍaṁ vikāriṣu | parīkṣya kāriṇaṁ dhīram atyantaṁ śrī niṣevate ||

Translation

Vidura said: Prosperity (Śrī) attends with unwavering devotion to the steadfast man who has brought his senses under control, conquered himself, punishes offenders when required, and acts only after careful examination.

Word by Word

• वश्येन्द्रियम्: having the senses under control
• वश्येन्द्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्येन्द्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जितात्मानम्: self-conquered
• जितात्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धृतदण्डम्: holding/maintaining punishment (the rod of discipline)
• धृतदण्डम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतदण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विकारिषु: among offenders / wrongdoers
• विकारिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-ईक्ष्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Active

• कारिणम्: one who acts (doer)
• कारिणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धीरम्: steadfast, wise
• धीरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अत्यन्तम्: exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्त

• श्रीः: fortune, prosperity (Lakṣmī)
• श्रीः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• निषेवते: serves, attends upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-सेव्
• Form: Lat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Middle

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Śrī (Lakṣmī/Prosperity)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Prosperity is not random: it naturally follows the person who practices self-mastery, enforces justice against wrongdoing, and acts only after careful inquiry. Vidura links inner discipline and ethical governance with stable well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he presents a principle of statecraft and personal ethics: the ideal leader (or wise person) restrains the senses, remains inwardly victorious, punishes offenders appropriately, and makes decisions after scrutiny—thereby attracting Śrī (prosperity).