Shloka 10

Vidura Leaves Hastināpura and Meets Uddhava

Vidura’s Tīrtha-yātrā Begins

Devanagari script

यदोपहूतो भवनं प्रविष्टो मन्त्राय पृष्ट: किल पूर्वजेन । अथाह तन्मन्त्रद‍ृशां वरीयान् यन्मन्त्रिणो वैदुरिकं वदन्ति ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

yadopahūto bhavanaṁ praviṣṭo mantrāya pṛṣṭaḥ kila pūrvajena athāha tan mantra-dṛśāṁ varīyān yan mantriṇo vaidurikaṁ vadanti

Translation

Khi Vidura được người anh cả Dhṛtarāṣṭra mời đến để bàn việc, ngài bước vào nhà và đáp lời hỏi của bậc trưởng thượng bằng lời khuyên đúng chỗ, đúng mực. Lời dạy của Vidura vốn nổi danh và được các đại thần lão luyện tán đồng.

Synonyms

• yadā: when
• yadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• upahūtaḥ: having been summoned
• upahūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate to implied subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√hū (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having been summoned/called’

• bhavanam: the house/palace
• bhavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• praviṣṭaḥ: having entered
• praviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate to implied subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√viś (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past active participle in sense (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘entered’

• mantrāya: for counsel/consultation
• mantrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose (प्रयोजनार्थे चतुर्थी)

• pṛṣṭaḥ: being asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (of asking; patient)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘asked/questioned’

• kila: indeed/it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), reportative/emphatic

• pūrvajena: by the elder/older brother
• pūrvajena: Karta (कर्ता) (agent of asking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunctive particle (समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक निपात)

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म) (object: ‘that [speech/thing]’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• mantra-dṛśām: of the counsellor-seers
• mantra-dṛśām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; ‘of the seers/knowers of counsel’

• varīyān: the better/superior
• varīyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varīyas (प्रातिपदिक; comparative)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; comparative (तर/ईयस्)

• yat: which/that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘vadanti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun

• mantriṇaḥ: ministers/counsellors
• mantriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• vaidurikam: (like) a cat’s-eye gem / vaidurika
• vaidurikam: Karma (कर्म) (predicate/object described as such)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidurika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; gemstone ‘cat’s-eye’ (vaidūrya) / ‘vaidurika’

• vadanti: say
• vadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Purport

Political suggestions by Vidura are known as expert, just as, in modern times, Paṇḍita Cāṇakya is considered the authority in good counsel in both political and moral instructions.

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Dhritarashtra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving wise counsel to leaders?

This verse praises the ideal of dharmic counsel: a truly wise person, when asked, speaks clear and faultless advice that even seasoned ministers recognize as excellent.

Why did Dhritarashtra ask Vidura for counsel in Canto 3 Chapter 1?

As the elder of the Kuru house, Dhritarashtra summons Vidura to the palace and questions him, seeking guidance—setting the stage for Vidura’s truthful, corrective instruction.

Practical application of speaking truth as counsel in modern life?

When asked for advice, speak with clarity, integrity, and the other person’s long-term welfare in mind—even if the truth is uncomfortable.