Shloka 68

Devanagari script

उत्थान संयमो दाक्ष्यमप्रमादो धृति: स्मृति: । समीक्ष्य च समारम्भो विद्धि मूलं भवस्य तु,उद्योग, संयम, दक्षता, सावधानी, धैर्य, स्मृति और सोच-विचारकर कार्यारम्भ करना-- इन्हें उन्नतिका मूल-मन्त्र समझिये

Transliteration

utthāna-saṁyamo dākṣyam apramādo dhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ | samīkṣya ca samārambho viddhi mūlaṁ bhavasya tu ||

Translation

विदुर म्हणतात—उत्थान (उद्योग), संयम, दाक्ष्य (दक्षता), अप्रमाद (सावधानता), धृति (धैर्य), स्मृती, आणि विचार करून कार्यारंभ—हेच कल्याणाचे मूळ आहे, असे जाणावे.

Word by Word

उत्थानम्rising up; exertion; initiative

संयमःself-control; restraint

दाक्ष्यम्skill; competence

अप्रमादःvigilance; non-negligence

धृतिःsteadfastness; fortitude

स्मृतिःmemory; mindfulness

समीक्ष्यhaving examined; after considering

चand

समारम्भःundertaking; commencement (of action)

विद्धिknow (you); understand

मूलम्root; foundation

भवस्यof prosperity/welfare; of success

तुindeed; but (emphatic)

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura defines the foundation of true welfare as a set of disciplined virtues: energetic effort, restraint, competence, vigilance, courage, mindful memory, and starting actions only after careful evaluation. Prosperity is presented as the fruit of character and prudent judgment rather than impulsive action.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, as the Kuru court faces escalating conflict and high-stakes decisions, Vidura offers nīti (statecraft and moral counsel). This verse is part of his guidance emphasizing inner discipline and thoughtful action as essential for stability and success amid political turmoil.