Shloka 31

उद्योगपर्व — विदुरनीतिः (Adhyāya 37): आयुःक्षयहेतवः, नीतिसूत्राणि, बलभेदाः, पाण्डव-विग्रहदोषदर्शनम्

Devanagari script

निरर्थ कलहं प्राज्ञो वर्जयेन्मूढसेवितम्‌ । कीर्ति च लभते लोके न चानर्थेन युज्यते

Transliteration

nirartha-kalahaṁ prājño varjayen mūḍha-sevitam | kīrtiṁ ca labhate loke na cānarthena yujyate ||

Translation

Vidura advises that a wise person should avoid pointless quarrels—especially those fostered and frequented by the foolish. By refusing such empty conflict, one gains a good name in the world and does not become entangled in harmful consequences.

Word by Word

• निरर्थम्: fruitless, purposeless
• निरर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कलहम्: quarrel, strife
• कलहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राज्ञः: the wise person
• प्राज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृज् (वर्जयति)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मूढसेवितम्: frequented/served by fools
• मूढसेवितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ-सेवित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कीर्तिम्: fame, renown
• कीर्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• लभते: obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

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

• अनर्थेन: with misfortune/harm; by a harmful (means)
• अनर्थेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• युज्यते: is joined/connected; gets involved
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada (passive sense)

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura