Shloka 62

Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum

Udyoga-parva 35

Devanagari script

महानप्येकजो वृक्षो बलवान्‌ सुप्रतिष्ठित: । प्रसह एव वातेन सस्कन्धो मर्दितुं क्षणात्‌,यदि वृक्ष अकेला है तो वह बलवान, दृढ़मूल तथा बहुत बड़ा होनेपर भी एक ही क्षणमें आँधीके द्वारा बलपूर्वक शाखाओंसहित धराशायी किया जा सकता है

Transliteration

mahān apy ekajo vṛkṣo balavān supratiṣṭhitaḥ | prasaha eva vātena sa-skandho mardituṃ kṣaṇāt ||

Translation

Vidura said: Even a great tree, if it stands alone—strong and firmly rooted—can still be violently crushed in a moment by a storm, branches and all. Thus, one who is isolated, however powerful, becomes vulnerable; strength is secured by support, alliance, and wise association.

Word by Word

महान्great, large

अपिeven, although

एकजःsingle-born; standing alone (solitary)

वृक्षःtree

बलवान्strong

सुप्रतिष्ठितःwell-established; firmly rooted

प्रसहforcibly, violently

एवindeed, just

वातेनby the wind

स-स्कन्धःwith trunk/branches (lit. with the skandha)

मर्दितुम्to crush, to fell

क्षणात्in a moment; within an instant

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

tree (vṛkṣa)

wind/storm (vāta)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes