Shloka 7

Devanagari script

नीवारमूलेड्गुदशाक वृत्ति: सुसंयतात्माग्निकार्येषु चोद्य: । वने वसन्नतिथिष्वप्रमत्तो धुरन्धर: पुण्यकृदेष तापस:,जो नीवार (जंगली चावल), कन्द-मूल, इंगुदीपाल और साग खाकर निर्वाह करता है, मनको वशमें रखता है, अग्निहोत्र करता है, वनमें रहकर भी अतिथिसेवामें सदा सावधान रहता है, वही पुण्यात्मा तपस्वी (वानप्रस्थी) श्रेष्ठ माना गया है

Transliteration

nīvāramūleṅgudaśāka-vṛttiḥ susaṁyatātmāgnikāryeṣu codyaḥ | vane vasann atithiṣv apramatto dhurandharaḥ puṇyakṛd eṣa tāpasaḥ ||

Translation

Vidura describes the ideal forest-dwelling ascetic (vānaprastha): one who sustains himself on wild rice, roots and tubers, the fruit of the iṅgudī tree, and simple greens; who keeps his mind disciplined and is diligent in sacred fire-rites; who, though living in the forest, remains ever attentive to the duties owed to guests. Such a bearer of responsibilities is truly a doer of merit and is regarded as an excellent tapasvin.

Word by Word

नीवारमूलैःwith wild-rice roots/tubers

इङ्गुदशाकवृत्तिःone whose livelihood is (from) ingudī-fruit and greens

सुसंयतात्माhaving well-controlled self

अग्निकार्येषुin the fire-ritual duties

चand

उद्यःdiligent/active

वनेin the forest

वसन्dwelling (living)

अतिथिषुtowards/with regard to guests

अप्रमत्तःunheedless-free, vigilant

धुरन्धरःcapable, bearing responsibilities

पुण्यकृत्doer of merit, virtuous

एषःthis (person)

तापसःascetic, forest-dweller

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

agni (sacred fire)

atithi (guest)

forest (vana)

nīvāra (wild rice)

mūla (roots/tubers)

iṅgudī (tree/fruit)

śāka (greens)

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?

True ascetic excellence is not mere withdrawal but disciplined living: simple subsistence, mastery of mind, faithful performance of sacred duties, and vigilant hospitality to guests—dharma upheld even in the forest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is instructing on righteous conduct by defining the marks of an exemplary forest-dweller (vānaprastha/tapasvin), emphasizing restraint, ritual responsibility, and unwavering attentiveness to atithi-sevā.