Shloka 1

Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum

Udyoga-parva 35

Devanagari script

ऑपन-माज बछ। अफि्-"ऋा - यज्ञोपवीतहीन पिताका पुत्र

Transliteration

vidura uvāca | atraivodāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | ātreyasya ca saṁvādaṁ sādhyānāṁ ceti naḥ śrutam ||

Translation

విదురుడు పలికెను—రాజా! ఇదే విషయములో ప్రజలు ప్రాచీన ఇతిహాసాన్ని ఉదాహరణగా చెబుతారు—దత్తాత్రేయుడు (ఆత్రేయుడు) మరియు సాధ్యదేవతల సంభాషణ. అది మేము కూడా పరంపరగా విన్నాము.

Word by Word

• अनत्र: here; in this matter
• अनत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनत्र

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• उदाहरन्ति: they cite; they give as an example
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+आ+हृ
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• इतिहासम्: legend; historical account
• इतिहासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आत्रेयस्य: of Ātreya (Dattātreya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्रेय
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• संवादम्: dialogue; conversation
• संवादम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• साध्यानाम्: of the Sādhyas (a class of deities)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• इति: thus; as follows (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• नः: of us; to us
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: genitive, plural, 1

• श्रुतम्: heard; has been heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (→ श्रुत)
• Form: kta (past passive participle), neuter, nominative, singular

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Dattātreya (Ātreya)
• Sādhyas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura frames his ethical counsel by appealing to authoritative tradition: he will support his argument with an ancient exemplary narrative (itihāsa), implying that dharma is clarified through time-tested precedents and the testimony of the wise.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura begins a new section of instruction to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra by introducing a well-known old story—described as a dialogue between Dattātreya (Ātreya) and the Sādhya gods—which he says is part of what has been heard in tradition.