Shloka 22

उद्योगपर्व — विदुरनीतिः (Adhyāya 37): आयुःक्षयहेतवः, नीतिसूत्राणि, बलभेदाः, पाण्डव-विग्रहदोषदर्शनम्

Devanagari script

राजा अच्छी तरह परीक्षा किये बिना किसीको अपना मन्त्री न बनावे; क्योंकि धनकी प्राप्ति और मन्त्रकी रक्षाका भार मन्त्रीपर ही रहता है। जिसके धर्म

Transliteration

rājā samyak parīkṣyaiva kañcid amātyaṃ na niyojayet | dhanalābhasya mantrarākṣaṇasya ca bhāro hy amātye pratiṣṭhitaḥ || dharmārthakāmaviṣayāḥ sarve 'pi yasya karmāṇi sampūrṇāny eva sabhāsadaḥ paścād jānanti sa rājā sarvarājānāṃ variṣṭhaḥ || yaḥ svamantraṃ gopayati tasya niścayena siddhir bhavati || apraśastāni kāryāṇi yo mohād anutiṣṭhati | sa teṣāṃ viparibhraṃśād bhraṃśyate jīvitād api ||

Translation

ରାଜା ଭଲଭାବେ ପରୀକ୍ଷା ନକରି କାହାକୁ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ କରିବେ ନାହିଁ; କାରଣ ଧନସାଧନ ଓ ମନ୍ତ୍ରରକ୍ଷାର ଭାର ପ୍ରଧାନତଃ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଉପରେ ରହେ। ଯାହାର ଧର୍ମ, ଅର୍ଥ ଓ କାମ-ବିଷୟକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟଗୁଡ଼ିକ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହେବା ପରେ ମାତ୍ର ପରିଷଦସଦସ୍ୟମାନେ ଜାଣନ୍ତି—ସେଇ ରାଜା ରାଜସତ୍ତମ। ଯେ ନିଜ ମନ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ଗୁପ୍ତ ରଖେ, ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ସିଦ୍ଧି ପାଏ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଯେ ମୋହବଶ ଅପ୍ରଶସ୍ତ, ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରନିଷିଦ୍ଧ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରେ, ସେ ତାହାର ବିପରୀତ ଫଳରେ ନଷ୍ଟ ହୁଏ ଏବଂ ଜୀବନ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ହାରାଇଦିଏ।

Word by Word

• अप्रशस्तानि: blameworthy, improper
• अप्रशस्तानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रशस्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• कार्याणि: acts, deeds
• कार्याणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मोहात्: from delusion; out of delusion
• मोहात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• अनुतिष्ठति: undertakes, performs
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-स्था
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of those (deeds)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• विपरिभ्रंशात्: from perversion/miscarriage; from adverse outcome
• विपरिभ्रंशात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपरिभ्रंश
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• भ्रंश्यते: falls away, perishes
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रंश्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• जीवितात्: from life; even from life
• जीवितात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• rājā (the king)
• amātya/mantrin (minister)
• sabhā/sabhāsadaḥ (royal assembly/courtiers)
• mantra (state counsel/secret policy)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must carefully test and appoint ministers, protect confidential counsel, and avoid forbidden or blameworthy actions; secrecy and disciplined policy lead to success, while deluded wrongdoing brings ruin—even death.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel (nīti) during the Udyoga Parva, he instructs the king on prudent governance: selecting trustworthy ministers, keeping plans concealed until fulfilled, and recognizing that improper acts rebound disastrously.