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Shloka 65

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

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

अन्निहोत्रफला वेदा: शीलवृत्तफलं श्रुवम्‌ । रतिपुत्रफला नारी दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम्‌

agnihotraphalā vedāḥ śīlavṛttaphalaṃ śrutam | ratiputraphalā nārī dattabhukta-phalaṃ dhanam ||

Vidura states that every revered thing bears its proper fruit: the Vedas culminate in the performance of agnihotra; learning and sacred study should mature into good character and disciplined conduct; a wife brings the fruits of conjugal joy and the begetting of children; and wealth finds its true purpose in being enjoyed rightly and, above all, given in charity.

अग्निहोत्रफलाःhaving agnihotra as (their) fruit
अग्निहोत्रफलाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअग्निहोत्रफल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
वेदाःthe Vedas
वेदाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवेद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शीलवृत्तफलम्the fruit (being) good conduct and right behavior
शीलवृत्तफलम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशीलवृत्तफल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
श्रुतम्scriptural learning / what is heard (śruti)
श्रुतम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्रुत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
रतिपुत्रफलाःhaving pleasure and sons as (her) fruit
रतिपुत्रफलाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरतिपुत्रफल
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
नारीa woman
नारी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनारी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
दत्तभुक्तफलम्the fruit (being) giving and enjoyment
दत्तभुक्तफलम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदत्तभुक्तफल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
धनम्wealth
धनम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
V
Vedas
A
Agnihotra
W
wife (nārī)
W
wealth (dhanam)

Educational Q&A

Vidura teaches that the worth of Vedic knowledge, learning, marriage, and wealth is measured by their proper dharmic fruits: ritual duty (agnihotra), virtuous conduct, family continuity and lawful pleasure, and the righteous use of wealth through enjoyment within limits and generous giving.

In the Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral counsel in the tense lead-up to war. Here he summarizes a practical ethic: each sphere of life—religion, education, household relations, and economics—must culminate in its intended, socially and morally sustaining outcome.