Shloka 31

हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः

Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace

Devanagari script

अष्टौ गुणा: पुरुषं दीपयन्ति प्रज्ञा च कौल्यं च श्रुतं दमश्न । पराक्रमश्चाबहुभाषिता च दानं यथाशक्ति कृतज्ञता च

Transliteration

aṣṭau guṇāḥ puruṣaṃ dīpayanti prajñā ca kaulyaṃ ca śrutaṃ damaś ca | parākramaś cābahubhāṣitā ca dānaṃ yathāśakti kṛtajñatā ca ||

Translation

ବିଦୁର ଶିଖାନ୍ତି—ପୁରୁଷକୁ ଦୀପ୍ତ କରୁଥିବା ଆଠ ଗୁଣ: ପ୍ରଜ୍ଞା, କୁଳୀନତା/ସଦାଚାର, ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରଶ୍ରବଣଜନିତ ଜ୍ଞାନ, ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟନିଗ୍ରହ, ପରାକ୍ରମ, ଅଳ୍ପଭାଷିତା, ଯଥାଶକ୍ତି ଦାନ, ଏବଂ କୃତଜ୍ଞତା। ସମାଜରେ ଓ ଧର୍ମପଥରେ ଏହିଗୁଡ଼ିକ ହିଁ ସତ୍ୟ ଭୂଷଣ।

Word by Word

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गुणाः: qualities, virtues
• गुणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पुरुषम्: a man, person
• पुरुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दीपयन्ति: illuminate, make shine, adorn
• Type: Verb
• Root: दीप् (दीपयति)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada, Active

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom, intelligence
• प्रज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कौल्यं: nobility of family, good lineage
• कौल्यं: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौल्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• श्रुतम्: learning, what is heard (scriptural knowledge)
• श्रुतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दमः: self-control, restraint
• दमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पराक्रमः: valor, prowess
• पराक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अबहुभाषिता: not speaking much, brevity in speech
• अबहुभाषिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-बहु-भाषिता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दानम्: giving, charity
• दानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यथाशक्ति: according to one's ability
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-शक्ति

• कृतज्ञता: gratitude
• कृतज्ञता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतज्ञता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A person’s true brilliance comes from cultivated virtues—wisdom, noble conduct, learning, self-control, courage, restrained speech, appropriate generosity, and gratitude—rather than from power or status alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva’s tense pre-war diplomacy, he lists the virtues that should guide leaders and individuals, implicitly critiquing reckless pride and urging dharmic character as the basis of policy and conduct.