Shloka 17

Devanagari script

गिरिपृष्ठमुपारुह प्रासादं वा रहोगतः,अरण्ये नि:शलाके वा तत्र मन्त्रोडभिधीयते । पर्ववकी चोटी अथवा राजमहलपर चढ़कर एकान्त स्थानमें जाकर या जंगलमें तृण आदिसे अनावृत स्थानपर मन्त्रणा करनी चाहिये

Transliteration

giripṛṣṭham upāruhya prāsādaṃ vā rahogataḥ | araṇye niḥśalāke vā tatra mantro ’bhidhīyate ||

Translation

Vidura advises that counsel should be held only in secure privacy—upon a mountain ridge, in a secluded upper chamber, or in a forest clearing with no cover—so deliberation is guarded from eavesdropping and intrigue. The ethical thrust is that wise rule depends on discretion: plans for the common good can be ruined, and harm can spread, when confidential counsel is exposed.

Word by Word

गिरि-पृष्ठम्the mountain-back/slope

उपारुह्यhaving climbed

प्रासादम्a palace/mansion

वाor

रहः-गतःgone to a secluded place; in private

अरण्येin a forest

नि:शलाकेin a place without stakes/pegs (i.e., open, unobstructed)

वाor

तत्रthere

मन्त्रःcounsel; consultation

उद्भिधीयतेis to be discussed/considered; is deliberated

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

mountain ridge (giripṛṣṭha)

palace/upper chamber (prāsāda)

forest (araṇya)

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?

Confidential counsel (mantra) must be held in a place that ensures privacy and prevents being overheard; discretion is a key virtue of righteous and effective governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is giving practical political-ethical instruction (nīti) on how and where rulers and advisers should conduct deliberations—choosing secluded or open, coverless locations to avoid spies and leakage of plans.