Shloka 24

Devanagari script

निश्चित्य यः प्रक्रमते नानतर्वसति कर्मण: । अवन्ध्यकालो वश्यात्मा स वै पण्डित उच्यते,जो पहले निश्चय करके फिर कार्यका आरम्भ करता है, कार्यके बीचमें नहीं रुकता, समयको व्यर्थ नहीं जाने देता और चित्तको वशमें रखता है, वही पण्डित कहलाता है

Transliteration

niścitya yaḥ prakramate nāntarvasati karmaṇaḥ | avandhyakālo vaśyātmā sa vai paṇḍita ucyate ||

Translation

Видура говорит: Поистине мудр тот, кто сперва принимает ясное решение и затем приступает к делу; кто не колеблется и не останавливается на полпути; кто не даёт времени пропасть впустую; и кто держит в узде свой ум и самого себя. Такая твёрдость намерения и самообладание — признак пандита (paṇḍita).

Word by Word

निश्चित्यhaving ascertained/decided

यःwho

प्रक्रमतेundertakes/begins

नnot

अन्तर्वसतिstops in between/halts midway

कर्मणःof the work/action

अवन्ध्यकालःone whose time is not wasted (who does not let time be fruitless)

वश्यात्माself-controlled (having the mind under control)

सःhe

वैindeed

पण्डितःa wise man/scholar

उच्यतेis called/is said

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

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?

Wisdom is shown by disciplined action: decide clearly before starting, persist without wavering, do not waste time, and maintain self-mastery. These traits together define a paṇḍita in Vidura’s ethical teaching.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers counsel on conduct and statecraft during the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he characterizes the ‘wise person’ through practical virtues—resolve, perseverance, valuing time, and control of the mind—meant to guide leaders and individuals amid crisis.