Shloka 52

Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

Devanagari script

मार्दवं सर्वभूतानामनसूया क्षमा धृति: । आयुष्याणि बुधा:ः प्राहुर्मित्राणां चाविमानना

Transliteration

mārdavaṁ sarvabhūtānām anasūyā kṣamā dhṛtiḥ | āyuṣyāṇi budhāḥ prāhur mitrāṇāṁ cāvimānanā ||

Translation

Vidura teaches that a gentle disposition toward all living beings, freedom from fault-finding, forgiveness, steadfastness, and never slighting one’s friends are virtues that sustain and lengthen life—so, he says, the wise have declared.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'mārdava', 'gloss': 'gentleness, softness of heart, mildness'}, {'term': 'sarva-bhūtānām', 'gloss': 'of all beings

• toward all living creatures'}, {'term': 'anasūyā', 'gloss': 'non-censoriousness

• freedom from envy/resentful criticism'}, {'term': 'kṣamā', 'gloss': 'forbearance, forgiveness, patience'}, {'term': 'dhṛti', 'gloss': 'steadfastness, firmness, sustaining resolve'}, {'term': 'āyuṣyāṇi', 'gloss': 'life-promoting

• conducive to longevity'}, {'term': 'budhāḥ', 'gloss': 'the wise, learned persons'}, {'term': 'prāhuḥ', 'gloss': 'they have said, they declare'}, {'term': 'mitrāṇām', 'gloss': 'of friends'}, {'term': 'avimānanā', 'gloss': 'non-disparagement

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• the wise (budhāḥ)
• friends (mitrāṇi)
• all beings (sarva-bhūtāni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Longevity and well-being are supported by ethical conduct: gentleness toward all beings, refraining from fault-finding, practicing forgiveness and steadfastness, and maintaining respect for friends.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers nīti-instruction amid rising political tension, emphasizing personal virtues and social harmony as stabilizing forces when conflict is approaching.