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Shloka 246

Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma

जनान्‌ यो5भिभवत्यन्यान्‌ कर्मणा हि स वै पुमान्‌ जो शास्त्रज्ञान, तपस्या, धन-सम्पत्ति अथवा पराक्रमके द्वारा दूसरे लोगोंको पराजित कर देता है, वह उसी श्रेष्ठ कर्मके द्वारा पुरुष कहलाता है

janān yo 'bhibhavaty anyān karmaṇā hi sa vai pumān | yaḥ śāstrajñānena tapasā dhana-sampattyā athavā parākramena dvijān lokān parājayati sa tenaiva śreṣṭha-karmaṇā pumān ucyate ||

風神ヴァーユは言った。「まことに『男』と呼ばれるのは、自らの実効ある行いによって他者を凌ぐ者ただ一人である。シャーストラ(聖典・法典)の通暁によってであれ、苦行によってであれ、富と繁栄によってであれ、あるいは勇武によってであれ—人を制するなら、その行為の卓越ゆえにこそ『男』と認められる。生まれや名乗りではなく、成し遂げられた力量によって定まるのだ。」

जनान्people
जनान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभिभवतिovercomes, defeats
अभिभवति:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-भू
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Indicative
अन्यान्others
अन्यान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कर्मणाby action/deed
कर्मणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वैcertainly
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
पुमान्a man
पुमान्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुमांस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva (Wind-god)

Educational Q&A

True worth is measured by effective, excellent action (karma) and demonstrated capability—whether expressed through learning, austerity, wealth, or valor—rather than by mere status or assertion.

Vāyudeva delivers a moral definition of ‘pumān’ (a true man/person of worth), emphasizing that superiority is established through concrete excellence—knowledge, tapas, prosperity, or heroic prowess—within the ethical discourse of the Udyoga Parva.