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Shloka 43

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

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

विनयभाव अपयशका नाश करता है, पराक्रम अनर्थको दूर करता है, क्षमा सदा ही क्रोधका नाश करती है और सदाचार कुलक्षणका अन्त करता है ।। परिच्छदेन क्षेत्रेण वेश्मना परिचर्यया । परीक्षेत कुलं राजन्‌ भोजनाच्छादनेन च,राजन! नाना प्रकारके परिच्छद-, माता, घर, सेवा-शुश्रूषा और भोजन तथा वस्त्रके द्वारा कुलकी परीक्षा करे

vinayabhāva apayaśakā nāśa kartā hai, parākrama anarthako dūra kartā hai, kṣamā sadā hī krodhakā nāśa kartī hai aura sadācāra kula-kṣaṇakā anta kartā hai. || paricchadena kṣetreṇa veśmanā paricaryayā | parīkṣeta kulaṁ rājan bhojanācchādanena ca ||

ข้าแต่พระราชา! ควรพิจารณาตระกูลด้วยเครื่องใช้และบริวารสิ่งของ ด้วยที่นาไร่และผืนดิน ด้วยเรือนที่อยู่อาศัย ด้วยการรับใช้ปรนนิบัติ ตลอดจนด้วยอาหารและเครื่องนุ่งห่ม

परिच्छदेनby furnishings/attire/equipment
परिच्छदेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपरिच्छद
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
क्षेत्रेणby the land/field
क्षेत्रेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षेत्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
वेश्मनाby the house/dwelling
वेश्मना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवेश्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
परिचर्ययाby service/attendance
परिचर्यया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपरिचर्या
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
परीक्षेतshould examine/test
परीक्षेत:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपरीक्ष्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
कुलम्family/lineage
कुलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकुल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
भोजनात्from/through food (as a criterion)
भोजनात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootभोजन
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
छादनेनby covering/clothing
छादनेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootछादन
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
K
King (rājan; Dhṛtarāṣṭra implied)
K
kula (lineage/family)
P
paricchada (furnishings/equipment)
K
kṣetra (land/fields)
V
veśman (house)
P
paricaryā (service/attendance)
B
bhojana (food)
Ā
ācchādana (clothing)

Educational Q&A

Vidura links inner virtues to social outcomes: humility prevents dishonor, valor removes dangers, forgiveness ends anger, and sustained good conduct corrects a family’s blemishes. He also teaches practical discernment—judge a household’s true standing by observable conduct and stewardship (home, land, service, food, clothing), not by mere reputation.

In Vidura’s counsel to the king during the tense pre-war diplomacy of the Udyoga Parva, he offers ethical instruction and statecraft: cultivating virtues for stability, and advising how a ruler should assess families/lineages through concrete indicators of order, hospitality, and disciplined living.