Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

चिकित्सक: शल्यकर्तावकीर्णी स्तेन: क्रूरो मद्यपो भ्रूणहा च । सेनाजीवी श्रुतिविक्रायकश्न भृशं प्रियो5प्पतिथिनोंदकार्ह:,वैद्य, चीरफाड़ करनेवाला (जर्राह), ब्रह्मचर्यसे भ्रष्ट, चोर, क्रूर, शराबी, गर्भहत्यारा, सेनाजीवी और वेदविक्रेता--ये यद्यपि पैर धोनेके योग्य नहीं हैं, तथापि यदि अतिथि होकर आवें तो विशेष प्रिय यानी आदरके योग्य होते हैं

Transliteration

vidura uvāca | cikitsakaḥ śalyakartāvakīrṇī stenaḥ krūro madyapo bhrūṇahā ca | senājīvī śrutivikrāyakaś ca bhṛśaṁ priyo 'py atithir no 'dakarhyaḥ ||

Translation

Vidura said: “A physician, a surgeon, one fallen from celibate discipline, a thief, a cruel man, a drunkard, a slayer of an embryo, a mercenary soldier, and a seller of the Veda—though such people are not fit even to have their feet washed, still, if they come as guests, they are to be treated with special regard; the guest is not to be denied the water of hospitality.”

Word by Word

चिकित्सकःphysician

शल्यकर्त्ताsurgeon (one who performs operations)

अवकीर्णीone fallen from brahmacarya (incontinent student)

स्तेनःthief

क्रूरःcruel (man)

मद्यपःdrunkard (wine-drinker)

भ्रूणहाslayer of an embryo (foeticide)

चand

सेनाजीवीone who lives by soldiering (mercenary)

श्रुतिविक्रायकःseller of the Veda (one who sells sacred learning)

चand

भृशम्greatly, exceedingly

प्रियःdear, worthy of honor

अपिeven, although

अतिथिःguest

नnot

उदकार्हःworthy of water (for washing feet/receiving water-offering)

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

atithi (guest)

śruti (the Veda)

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?

Even those regarded as morally impure or socially blameworthy must still be honored when they arrive as guests; the duty of hospitality (especially offering water and respectful reception) is upheld as a strong dharmic obligation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s ethical counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he lists various disreputable or sinful types of people and states that, despite their faults, if they come as atithis, they should not be refused the customary hospitality—highlighting the primacy of atithi-dharma.