Shloka 47

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

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

Devanagari script

न तथेच्छन्ति कल्याणान्‌ परेषां वेदितुं गुणान्‌ यथीैषां ज्ञातुमिच्छन्ति नैर्गुण्यं पापचेतस:

Transliteration

na tathecchanti kalyāṇān pareṣāṁ vedituṁ guṇān yathaivaiṣāṁ jñātum icchanti nairguṇyaṁ pāpacetasaḥ

Translation

ବିଦୁର କହିଲେ—ଯାହାଙ୍କ ମନ ପାପରେ ଲଗ୍ନ, ସେମାନେ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କର ମଙ୍ଗଳମୟ ଗୁଣ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ସେତେ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ; ଯେତେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଗୁଣ ଖୋଜି ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଅଧିକ ଆଗ୍ରହ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तथा: thus/so; in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• इच्छन्ति: they desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Lat, present indicative, 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• कल्याणान्: good/auspicious (ones)
• कल्याणान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्याण
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• परेषाम्: of others
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• वेदितुम्: to know
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: tumun (infinitive)

• गुणान्: qualities/virtues
• गुणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• यथा: as/just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• एषाम्: of these/of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: tumun (infinitive)

• इच्छन्ति: they desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Lat, present indicative, 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• नैर्गुण्यम्: fault/absence of good qualities; defect
• नैर्गुण्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैर्गुण्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• पापचेतसः: evil-minded (people)
• पापचेतसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापचेतस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A mind inclined to wrongdoing naturally prefers fault-finding over appreciating virtue. Ethical perception is shaped by inner character: purity seeks good qualities, while corruption hunts defects.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel during the tense pre-war deliberations, he diagnoses a common moral failing in courtly and political life—people with impure intentions focus on others’ shortcomings rather than their merits—warning against such biased judgment.