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Shloka 29

Strī Parva, Adhyāya 2 — Vidura’s Consolation on Kāla, Karma, and the Limits of Lamentation (विदुरोपदेशः)

नार्थों न धर्मो न सुखं यदेतदनुशोचसि

nārtho na dharmo na sukhaṃ yad etad anuśocasi

Vidura said: “This grief of yours serves no purpose—neither worldly gain, nor righteousness, nor happiness comes from lamenting in this way.”

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अर्थःwealth/advantage (is) not
अर्थः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
nor
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
धर्मःdharma/righteousness (is) not
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
nor
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सुखम्happiness (is) not
सुखम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसुख
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
यत्which/that (thing)
यत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
एतत्this
एतत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अनुशोचसिyou grieve/lament (over)
अनुशोचसि:
TypeVerb
Rootअनु-शुच्
FormLat, Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura

Educational Q&A

Vidura teaches that uncontrolled lamentation is ethically unproductive: it does not lead to artha (practical good), dharma (right conduct), or sukha (inner well-being). The implied counsel is to move from grief to clear-sighted, dharma-aligned action and restraint.

In the Strī Parva’s mourning context after the great destruction, Vidura addresses a grieving listener and attempts to steady them with moral counsel, warning that this kind of sorrow yields no benefit—neither in worldly outcomes nor in righteousness nor in peace of mind.