Shloka 44

Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

Devanagari script

उपस्थितस्य कामस्य प्रतिवादो न विद्यते । अपि निर्मुक्तदेहस्य कामरक्तस्य कि पुन:

Transliteration

upasthitasya kāmasya prativādo na vidyate | api nirmuktadehasya kāmaraktasya ki punaḥ ||

Translation

Видура сказал: Когда предмет желания уже сам явился, сопротивление встречается редко. Если даже тот, кто свободен от отождествления с телом, не противится тому, что приходит само собой, то что говорить о человеке, чьё сердце пылает жаждой и привязанностью?

Word by Word

• उपस्थितस्य: of what has come/appeared (present)
• उपस्थितस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्थित (उप + √स्था)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कामस्य: of desire
• कामस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रतिवादः: opposition/objection
• प्रतिवादः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिवाद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (विद्) / विद् (सत्तायाम्) → विद्यते
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

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

• निर्मुक्तदेहस्य: of one freed from the body
• निर्मुक्तदेहस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मुक्तदेह
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कामरक्तस्य: of one attached to desire
• कामरक्तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामरक्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• किम्: what (then)?
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• पुनः: again; moreover; then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura highlights the psychological force of desire: when a tempting object is already at hand, refusal is uncommon. Therefore, one should not trust mere intention; ethical strength requires prior discipline, vigilance, and restraint before desire becomes imminent.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral counsel (nīti) during the tense lead-up to war. Here he warns that attachment and craving overpower judgment, implying that leaders driven by desire will not resist unjust gains once they appear attainable.