Shloka 22

Udyoga Parva Adhyaya 62 — Duryodhana’s Claim of Victory and Vidura’s Allegories on Discord and Risk

Devanagari script

नैष्कर्म्य वा समास्थाय ज्ञानतृप्तो जितेन्द्रिय: । कालाकाडुक्षी चरँंल्लोके ब्रह्म॒ुभूयाय कल्पते

Transliteration

naiṣkarmyaṁ vā samāsthāya jñāna-tṛpto jitendriyaḥ | kālākāṅkṣī caraṁl loke brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ||

Translation

ଅଥବା ଯେ ପୁରୁଷ ଜ୍ଞାନରେ ତୃପ୍ତ, ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟଜୟୀ, ନୈଷ୍କର୍ମ୍ୟକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି ନିଜ କାଳକୁ ଶାନ୍ତଭାବେ ପ୍ରତୀକ୍ଷା କରୁଥିବା ସମୟରେ ଅନାସକ୍ତ ଭାବରେ ଲୋକରେ ବିଚରଣ କରେ—ସେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଭାବ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତିକୁ ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• नैष्कर्म्यम्: actionlessness; freedom from (binding) action
• नैष्कर्म्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैष्कर्म्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• समास्थाय: having resorted to; having adopted
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• ज्ञानतृप्तः: satisfied with knowledge
• ज्ञानतृप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-तृप्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कालम्: time (the destined time)
• कालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आकाङ्क्षी: awaiting; expecting
• आकाङ्क्षी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-काॄङ्क्षिन् (आकाङ्क्षिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चरन्: moving about; wandering
• चरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• ब्रह्मभूयाय: for Brahman-state; for becoming Brahman
• ब्रह्मभूयाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-भूय
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• कल्पते: is fit; is capable; is suited
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप्
• Form: Lat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Brahman (brahma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A person who is fulfilled by wisdom, has mastered the senses, and lives without attachment—either through the stance of naiṣkarmya (non-selfish action/non-doership) or through renunciant composure—becomes qualified for liberation, described here as attaining Brahmanhood.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he presents an ethical-spiritual ideal: even while living in society, one can remain unattached, patient before destiny, and inwardly steady; such a life is praised as leading toward the highest goal.