Shloka 21

Devanagari script

सत्यं श्रेष्ठ पाण्डव विप्रलापं तुल्यं चान्नं सह भोज्यं सहायै: । आत्मा चैषामग्रतो न सम पूज्य एवंवृत्तिर्वर्धती भूमिपाल:,पाण्डुनन्दन! व्यर्थकी बकवादसे रहित सत्य बोलना ही श्रेष्ठ है। अपने सहायक भाई- बन्धुओंके साथ बैठकर समान अन्नका भोजन करना चाहिये। उन सबके आगे अपनी मान- बड़ाई तथा पूजाकी बातें नहीं करनी चाहिये। ऐसा बर्ताव करनेवाला भूपाल सदा उन्नतिशील होता है

Transliteration

satyaṁ śreṣṭha pāṇḍava vipralāpaṁ tulyaṁ cānnaṁ saha bhojyaṁ sahāyaiḥ | ātmā caiṣām agrato na sama pūjya evaṁvṛttir vardhatī bhūmipālaḥ, pāṇḍunandana |

Translation

Vidura advises the Pandava that truthfulness is best, and that empty, deceptive talk should be avoided. A ruler should sit with his helpers and companions and share the same food equally. He should not put himself forward before them, seeking special honor or worship. A king who behaves in this way steadily grows in strength and prosperity, O son of Pandu.

Word by Word

सत्यम्truth (speaking truth)

श्रेष्ठम्best, superior

पाण्डवO Pāṇḍava

विप्रलापम्idle talk, prattle

तुल्यम्equal, the same

चand

अन्नम्food

सहtogether with

भोज्यम्to be eaten; should be eaten

सहायैःwith helpers/companions

आत्माself (one’s own person)

चand

एषाम्of these (of them)

अग्रतःin front, before

नnot

समम्equal; on a par (with them)

पूज्यम्to be honored; worthy of worship

एवम्thus, in this manner

वृत्तिःconduct, behavior

वर्धतेgrows, prospers

भूमिपालःking (protector of the earth)

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Pandava

Pandu

bhūmipāla (king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Speak truth and avoid empty or deceptive talk; a ruler should practice equality and humility—sharing the same food with companions and not demanding special honor—because such conduct leads to lasting prosperity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is giving ethical counsel to a Pandava, outlining practical standards of royal behavior: truthful speech, egalitarian fellowship with allies, and restraint from self-glorification.