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Shloka 51

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

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

इन्द्रियाणामनुत्सगों मृत्युनापि विशिष्यते । अत्यर्थ पुनरुत्सर्ग: सादयेद्‌ दैवतान्यपि,इन्द्रियोंको सर्वधा रोक रखना तो मृत्युसे भी बढ़कर कठिन है और उन्हें बिलकुल खुली छोड़ देना देवताओंका भी नाश कर देता है

indriyāṇām anutsargo mṛtyunāpi viśiṣyate | atyarthaḥ punar utsargaḥ sādayed daivatāny api ||

Vidura enseigne que maîtriser les sens est une discipline plus difficile encore que d’affronter la mort; mais les laisser sans frein est si funeste que cela peut faire choir même les dieux. La voie juste est la retenue : ni répression contrainte ni abandon, mais une maîtrise de soi réglée par le dharma.

इन्द्रियाणाम्of the senses
इन्द्रियाणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
अनुत्सर्गःnon-release; restraint (not letting loose)
अनुत्सर्गः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअनुत्सर्ग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मृत्युनाthan death / by death
मृत्युना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमृत्यु
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
अपिeven; also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
विशिष्यतेis distinguished; surpasses
विशिष्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootविशिष्
FormPresent, Atmanepada, Third, Singular
अत्यर्थम्excessively; too much
अत्यर्थम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्यर्थम्
पुनःagain; on the other hand
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
उत्सर्गःrelease; letting loose
उत्सर्गः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootउत्सर्ग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सादयेत्would destroy; would bring to ruin
सादयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootसद्
FormOptative, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular
दैवतानिthe gods; divine beings
दैवतानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदैवत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
अपिeven
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
I
indriyāṇi (the senses)
M
mṛtyu (death)
D
daivatāni (the gods)

Educational Q&A

True discipline lies in balanced restraint of the senses: suppressing them completely is extremely hard, but abandoning restraint is destructive. Dharma is served by regulated control rather than extremes.

In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers nīti (ethical counsel) amid rising political tension before the great war, warning that inner governance—especially of the senses—is essential for wise action and stability.