Shloka 18

Devanagari script

शक्‍्त्या जयसि राज्ञो<न्यानृषीन्‌ धर्मोपसेवया । ऐन्द्रे जये धृतमना याम्ये कोपविधारणे

Transliteration

śaktyā jayasi rājño 'nyān ṛṣīn dharmopasevayā | aindre jaye dhṛtamanā yāmye kopavidhāraṇe ||

Translation

Vidura dijo: «Con tu fuerza puedes superar a otros reyes; con el servicio devoto al dharma puedes superar incluso a los sabios. En la esfera de Indra, mantén la mente firme en la victoria; en la esfera de Yama, refrena la ira».

Word by Word

शक्त्याby power/ability

जयसिyou conquer

राज्ञःof the king

अन्यान्others

ऋषीन्sages

धर्मोपसेवयाby the practice/service of dharma

ऐन्द्रेin the Indra-like (victory)/in the Indra-related (victory)

जयेin victory

धृतमनाone whose mind is steady/controlled

याम्येin the Yama-related (sphere)/in the southern (sphere)

कोपविधारणेin the restraint/holding back of anger

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Indra

Yama

kings (rājānaḥ)

sages (ṛṣayaḥ)

dharma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly superiority over other rulers comes from strength, but true superiority—worthy even of sages—comes from sustained devotion to dharma. Therefore, remain composed in success and practice restraint, especially by checking anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura delivers counsel in the Sabha Parva, framing royal conduct through two symbolic domains: Indra’s (victory and power) and Yama’s (justice and restraint). He urges the listener to be steady in triumph and to master anger as a key ethical discipline.