Shloka 27

हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः

Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace

Devanagari script

जो सेवक स्वामीके आज्ञा देनेपर उनकी बातका आदर नहीं करता, किसी काममें लगाये जानेपर अस्वीकार कर देता है, अपनी बुद्धिपर गर्व करने और प्रतिकूल बोलनेवाले उस भृत्यको शीघ्र ही त्याग देना चाहिये ।।

Transliteration

yo sevakaḥ svāmina ājñā dene para unakī bāt kā ādar nahīṃ karatā, kisī kāma meṃ lagāye jāne para asvīkāra kar detā hai, apanī buddhi par garva karane aura pratikūla bolane-vālā usa bhṛtya ko śīghra hī tyāga denā cāhiye || astabdham aklībam adīrgha-sūtraṃ sānukrośaṃ śalakṣṇam ahāryam anyaiḥ | arogajātīyam udāra-vākyaṃ dūtaṃ vadanty aṣṭa-guṇopapannam ||

Translation

Pelayan yang ketika tuannya memberi perintah tidak menghormati kata-katanya, saat ditugaskan justru menolak, membanggakan kecerdasannya sendiri, dan gemar berkata berlawanan—pelayan seperti itu harus segera disingkirkan. Adapun utusan yang tidak congkak, tidak pengecut, tidak menunda-nunda, berbelas kasih, halus budi dan santun, tidak mudah dipengaruhi orang lain, sehat serta berasal dari keturunan yang baik, dan bertutur kata luhur lagi lapang—dialah utusan yang memiliki delapan kebajikan.

Word by Word

• {'sevakaḥ/bhṛtyaḥ': 'servant, retainer', 'svāmin': 'master, lord', 'ājñā': 'command, instruction', 'ādar(a)': 'respect, regard', 'asvīkāra': 'refusal, rejection', 'garva': 'pride, arrogance', 'pratikūla': 'contrary, hostile, adverse', 'tyāga': 'abandoning, dismissal', 'dūta': 'messenger, envoy', 'aṣṭa-guṇa-upapanna': 'endowed with eight qualities', 'astabdha': 'not haughty, not stiff with pride', 'aklība': 'not impotent

• by extension not cowardly/unmanly', 'adīrgha-sūtra': 'not long-threaded

• not a procrastinator', 'sānukrośa': 'compassionate, merciful', 'śalakṣṇa': 'polished, well-bred, refined in conduct/speech', 'ahārya (anyaiḥ)': 'not to be led away by others

• not easily influenced', 'aroga-jātīya': 'healthy in constitution and stock

• free from disease', 'udāra-vākya': 'noble, generous, dignified speech'}

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• dūta (envoy/messenger)
• sevaka/bhṛtya (servant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura teaches discernment in leadership: dismiss a servant who is insubordinate, work-averse, prideful, and oppositional; and rely on an envoy who is humble, courageous, prompt, compassionate, refined, not manipulable, healthy, and dignified in speech—qualities essential for trustworthy diplomacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Vidura is giving practical counsel on governance and diplomacy. This verse contrasts the kind of servant who undermines authority with the ideal messenger suited for sensitive political missions.