Shloka 5

Tilottamā, Sunda–Upasunda, and the Pāṇḍava Samaya (Ādi Parva 204)

Devanagari script

इमौ हि वृद्धौ वयसा प्रज्ञया च श्रुतेन च । समौ च त्वयि राजेन्द्र तथा पाण्डुसुतेषु च,राजेन्द्र! अवस्था, बुद्धि और शास्त्रज्ञान--सभी बातोंमें ये दोनों बढ़े-चढ़े हैं और आपफमें तथा पाण्डवोंमें समानभाव रखते हैं

Transliteration

imau hi vṛddhau vayasā prajñayā ca śrutena ca | samau ca tvayi rājendra tathā pāṇḍusuteṣu ca ||

Translation

Видура сказал: «Эти двое старейшин превосходят прочих и возрастом, и мудростью, и учёностью. О лучший из царей, они одинаково расположены и к тебе, и к сыновьям Панду».

Word by Word

इमौthese two

हिindeed/for

वृद्धौelder/advanced

वयसाby age

प्रज्ञयाby wisdom

चand

श्रुतेनby learning/scriptural knowledge

चand

समौequal/impartial

चand

त्वयिtowards/in you (i.e., with respect to you)

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

तथाso/likewise

पाण्डुसुतेषुamong/towards the sons of Pāṇḍu (the Pāṇḍavas)

चand

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Rājendra (the king, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra in context)

Pāṇḍusuta (sons of Pāṇḍu / Pāṇḍavas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True authority in counsel comes from maturity (age), discernment (prajñā), and learning (śruta), and such elders should be valued especially because they remain impartial between rival parties.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is addressing the king and pointing out that two respected elders are well-qualified and unbiased, treating the king and the Pāṇḍavas with equal regard—implying the king should heed their fair judgment rather than partisan impulses.