Shloka 77
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
अध्वा जरा देहवतां पर्वतानां जलं जरा । असम्भोगो जरा स्त्रीणां वाक्शल्यं मनसो जरा,अधिक राह चलना देहधारियोंके लिये दुःखरूप बुढ़ापा है, बराबर पानी गिरना पर्वतोंका बुढ़ापा है, सम्भोगसे वंचित रहनेका दु:ख स्त्रियोंके लिये बुढ़ापा है और वचन- रूपी बाणोंका आघात मनके लिये बुढ़ापा है
adhvā jarā dehavatāṁ parvatānāṁ jalaṁ jarā | asambhogo jarā strīṇāṁ vākśalyaṁ manaso jarā ||
ଦେହଧାରୀମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଦୀର୍ଘ ପଥଯାତ୍ରା ହିଁ ଜରା; ପର୍ବତମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ନିରନ୍ତର ଜଳପାତ ହିଁ ଜରା। ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସମ୍ଭୋଗବଞ୍ଚନା ଜରା; ଏବଂ ମନ ପାଇଁ କଠୋର ବାକ୍ୟବାଣର ଆଘାତ ଜରା।
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
‘Jarā’ (aging/decay) is presented as any force that steadily diminishes well-being: physical strain (long travel), natural erosion (water on mountains), emotional deprivation (lack of conjugal union), and psychological injury (cruel speech). The verse urges sensitivity to others’ suffering and restraint in speech.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral counsel (Vidura-nīti) amid rising conflict. Here he uses vivid analogies to explain how different beings ‘age’ through different kinds of wear—especially highlighting the mind’s vulnerability to hurtful words.