Shloka 8
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 147 — Kanyā-paridevita
The daughter’s lament on lineage and protection
शुचिमाप्तं प्रियं चैव सदा च दृढभक्तिकम् । न विद्यते कवे: किंचिदविज्ञातं प्रयोजनम्,तब सत्यवादी कुन्तीकुमार युधिष्ठिरने उससे कहा--'सौम्य! मैं तुम्हें पहचानता हूँ। तुम विदुरजीके हितैषी, ईमानदार, विश्वसनीय, प्रिय तथा उनके प्रति सदा अविचल भक्ति रखनेवाले हो। हमारा कोई भी ऐसा प्रयोजन नहीं है, जो परम ज्ञानी विदुरजीको ज्ञात न हो
śucim āptaṁ priyaṁ caiva sadā ca dṛḍha-bhaktikam | na vidyate kaveḥ kiñcid avijñātaṁ prayojanam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “He is pure in conduct, trustworthy, and dear; and he is ever steadfast in devotion. For the wise one (Vidura), there is no purpose or matter of ours that remains unknown.” The line underscores an ethical ideal: integrity joined with unwavering loyalty, and the confidence that true wisdom perceives the real aims behind actions.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises a character’s moral purity, reliability, and unwavering devotion, and affirms that genuine wisdom (exemplified by Vidura) understands others’ intentions. Ethically, it elevates trustworthiness and steadfast loyalty as dharmic virtues, and portrays the wise counselor as one who sees through to the true purpose behind actions.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes someone as pure, trusted, and devoted, then states that nothing the protagonists intend is unknown to the ‘kavi’—understood here as Vidura. The narrative effect is to establish Vidura’s penetrating insight and the high credibility of those aligned with him.