Shloka 51

Vyāsa’s Inquiry into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Tapas and the Identification of Vidura with Dharma

Devanagari script

न्यायतः: श्वशुरे वृत्तिं प्रयुज्य प्रययुस्तत: । श्वश्रृभ्यां समनुज्ञाता: परिष्वज्याभिनन्दिता:

Transliteration

nyāyataḥ śvaśure vṛttiṁ prayujya prayayus tataḥ | śvaśrūbhyāṁ samanujñātāḥ pariṣvajyābhinanditāḥ ||

Translation

舅（しゅうと）に対して道理にかなう奉仕とふるまいを尽くしたのち、彼女たちは旅立った。姑たちの許しを得て、抱擁と温かな祝福を受けつつ去り—正しくふさわしい道に従って行動した。

Word by Word

न्यायतःaccording to propriety/justice, duly

श्वशुरेin/at the father-in-law (i.e., in his house/presence)

वृत्तिम्conduct, mode of life, behavior

प्रयुज्यhaving practiced/applied

प्रययुःthey departed/went forth

ततःthen, thereafter

श्वश्रूभ्याम्by the two mothers-in-law

समनुज्ञाताःhaving been permitted/allowed

परिष्वज्यhaving embraced

अभिनन्दिताःhaving been greeted/congratulated

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

य

युधिष्ठिर (speaker)

श

श्वशुर (father-in-law)

श

श्वश्रू (mothers-in-law)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as propriety in relationships: one should fulfill due obligations toward elders (here, in-laws), seek consent before departing, and preserve harmony through respectful leave-taking.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira describes a departure scene: after behaving appropriately and rendering due service to the father-in-law, the group leaves only after receiving permission from the mothers-in-law, who embrace and bless them.