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Shloka 60

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

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

यत्‌ सुखं सेवमानो5पि धर्मार्थाभ्यां न हीयते । काम तदुपसेवेत न मूढव्रतमाचरेत्‌,जिस सुखका सेवन करते रहनेपर भी मनुष्य धर्म और अर्थसे भ्रष्ट नहीं होता, उसका यथेष्ट सेवन करे; किंतु मूढव्रत (निद्रा-प्रमादादिका सेवन) न करे

yat sukhaṁ sevamāno 'pi dharmārthābhyāṁ na hīyate | kāma tad upaseveta na mūḍhavratam ācaret ||

ഏത് സുഖം അനുഭവിച്ചാലും ധർമ്മവും അർത്ഥവും ക്ഷയിക്കാത്തുവോ, ആ സുഖം ഇഷ്ടമത്രം അനുഭവിക്കാം; എന്നാൽ മൂഢവ്രതം—അതിയായ നിദ്ര, പ്രമാദം, അശ്രദ്ധ—അനുഷ്ഠിക്കരുത്.

यत्which/that (thing)
यत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
सुखम्pleasure, happiness
सुखम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसुख
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
सेवमानःenjoying/using, engaging in
सेवमानः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसेव्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
अपिeven, although
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
धर्मार्थाभ्याम्from dharma and artha (righteousness and wealth)
धर्मार्थाभ्याम्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मार्थ
FormMasculine, Ablative/Instrumental, Dual
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
हीयतेis diminished/declines
हीयते:
TypeVerb
Rootहा
FormLat, Atmanepada, Passive (भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोग), Third, Singular, Present
कामO desire (addressed)
काम:
TypeNoun
Rootकाम
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
तत्that (pleasure)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
उपसेवेतshould resort to/should enjoy
उपसेवेत:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-सेव्
FormVidhi-lin, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular, Optative
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मूढव्रतम्a foolish vow/practice
मूढव्रतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमूढव्रत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आचरेत्should practice/should do
आचरेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-चर्
FormVidhi-lin, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular, Optative

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura

Educational Q&A

Enjoy pleasures that do not erode dharma and artha; avoid misguided habits (like sloth, negligence, and heedlessness) that weaken discipline and duty.

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he lays down a practical ethical rule for living: permissible enjoyment is that which remains compatible with righteousness and responsible prosperity, while destructive indulgences are to be rejected.