Shloka 15

Saṃsāra-gahana-jñāna: Vidura’s Account of Embodiment, Bondage, and Dharmic Release (संसारगहन-ज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

यदा प्राज्ञाश्न मूर्खाश्न धनवन्तश्न निर्धना: । कुलीनाश्चाकुलीनाश्न मानिनो5थाप्यमानिन:

Transliteration

yadā prājñāś ca mūrkhāś ca dhanavantaś ca nirdhanāḥ | kulīnāś cākulīnāś ca mānino 'thāpy amāninaḥ ||

Translation

毗度罗说：“当智者与愚者同归一律，富者与贫者同归一律，出身高贵者与出身卑微者同归一律，受人尊崇者与无名无誉者亦同归一律——当灾厄与死亡面前众生皆立于同一境地时，凭身份与财物而生的傲慢便显出其空虚。”

Word by Word

यदाwhen

प्राज्ञाःthe wise (people)

चand

मूर्खाःthe foolish (people)

चand

धनवन्तःthe wealthy

चand

निर्धनाःthe poor

कुलीनाःthe well-born / noble

चand

अकुलीनाःthe low-born / ignoble

चand

मानिनःthe self-respecting / proud

अथand then / also

अपिeven / also

अमानिनःthe without pride / not self-respecting

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

External distinctions—intelligence, wealth, birth, and social honor—do not ultimately protect anyone; in crisis and mortality all are leveled, so one should cultivate humility and dharmic conduct rather than pride.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the aftermath of the Kurukṣetra catastrophe (Strī Parva), Vidura speaks in a reflective, admonitory tone, pointing out how the devastation renders social and personal hierarchies meaningless.