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Shloka 8

Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

समृद्धा गुणतः: केचिद्‌ भवन्ति धनतो<परे । धनवृद्धान्‌ गुणैहीनान्‌ धृतराष्ट्र विवर्जय,धृतराष्ट्र! कुछ लोग गुणसे समृद्ध होते हैं और कुछ लोग धनसे। जो धनके धनी होते हुए भी गुणोंसे हीन हैं, उन्हें सर्वथा त्याग दीजिये

samṛddhā guṇataḥ kecid bhavanti dhanato 'pare | dhanavṛddhān guṇaihīnān dhṛtarāṣṭra vivarjaya ||

ヴィドゥラは言った。「ある者は徳によって栄え、ある者は財によって栄える。ドゥリタラーシュトラよ、財は豊かでも善き資質を欠く者は、ことごとく捨て去りなさい。」

समृद्धाःprosperous, enriched
समृद्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसमृद्ध (सम्-√ऋध्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
गुणतःby/through qualities (virtue)
गुणतः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगुण
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
केचित्some (people)
केचित्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootक (प्रातिपदिक: क-)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
भवन्तिbecome/are
भवन्ति:
TypeVerb
Root√भू
FormPresent, Third, Plural
धनतःby/through wealth
धनतः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootधन
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
अपरेothers
अपरे:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअपर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
धनवृद्धान्those increased in wealth, wealthy
धनवृद्धान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootधनवृद्ध
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
गुणैःwith qualities/virtues
गुणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगुण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
हीनान्devoid (of), lacking
हीनान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootहीन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
धृतराष्ट्रO Dhṛtarāṣṭra
धृतराष्ट्र:
TypeNoun
Rootधृतराष्ट्र
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
विवर्जयavoid, abandon, reject
विवर्जय:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√वृज्
FormImperative, Second, Singular

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

True worth is measured by guṇa (virtue and character), not merely by dhana (wealth). A ruler should not favor or keep close those who are wealthy but lack moral qualities, because such association corrupts governance and dharma.

In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura addresses King Dhṛtarāṣṭra with ethical guidance, urging him to discriminate in whom he supports and associates with—specifically to reject wealthy yet unprincipled persons.