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Shloka 41

Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum

Udyoga-parva 35

अकस्मादेव कुप्यन्ति प्रसीदन्त्यनिमित्तत: । शीलमेतदसाधूनाम श्र पारिप्लवं यथा,दुष्ट पुरुषोंका स्वभाव मेघके समान चंचल होता है, वे सहसा क्रोध कर बैठते हैं और अकारण ही प्रसन्न हो जाते हैं

akasmād eva kupyanti prasīdanty animittataḥ | śīlam etad asādhūnām yathā pariplavaṃ ghanaḥ ||

สันดานของคนพาลย่อมแปรปรวนดุจเมฆลอยเลื่อน เขาโกรธขึ้นมาโดยฉับพลัน และก็พอใจขึ้นมาโดยไร้เหตุ นี่แลคือเครื่องหมายของผู้ไร้ธรรมและไม่น่าไว้วางใจ

अकस्मात्suddenly, unexpectedly
अकस्मात्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअकस्मात्
FormAvyaya (adverb)
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
FormAvyaya (particle)
कुप्यन्तिthey become angry
कुप्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootकुप्
FormLat (present), parasmaipada, 3rd person, plural
प्रसीदन्तिthey become pleased/calm
प्रसीदन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-सीद्
FormLat (present), parasmaipada, 3rd person, plural
अनिमित्ततःwithout cause, for no reason
अनिमित्ततः:
Apadana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअ-निमित्त
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb in -tas)
शीलम्nature, disposition
शीलम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशील
FormNeuter, nominative, singular
एतत्this
एतत्:
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, nominative, singular
असाधूनाम्of the wicked/unsaintly
असाधूनाम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootअसाधु
FormMasculine, genitive, plural
यथाas, like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
FormAvyaya (comparative particle)
पारिप्लवम्unstable, fickle, wavering
पारिप्लवम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपारिप्लव
FormNeuter, nominative, singular (used predicatively)

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura

Educational Q&A

Unstable emotions—sudden anger and causeless pleasure—are signs of an unvirtuous character. Such fickleness makes a person untrustworthy; steadiness and reasoned self-control are implied marks of dharma.

In Vidura’s counsel during the tense pre-war negotiations of the Udyoga Parva, he warns about the temperament of wicked people, using the image of a drifting cloud to describe their unpredictable reactions.