Shloka 10
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
Devanagari script
अप्यहेरारुजन् दंष्टामाश्वेव निधनं व्रज । अपि वा संशयं प्राप्प जीविते5पि पराक्रमे:
Transliteration
apy aher ārujan daṁṣṭrām āśv eva nidhanaṁ vraja | api vā saṁśayaṁ prāpya jīvite ’pi parākrame ||
Translation
风神伐由说道：“纵使你折断那蛇一般的仇敌之牙，便须立刻赴死——也当向前。纵使性命已成疑局，仍须在争斗中显出勇武。敌若如蛇，勿退；宁择无畏之举，不取惧生之苟全。”
Word by Word
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
अहेःof a snake
अहेः:
TypeNoun
Rootअहि
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
आरुजन्break (you)
आरुजन्:
TypeVerb
Rootरुज्
FormImperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
दंष्ट्राम्fang
दंष्ट्राम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदंष्ट्रा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
आशुquickly, at once
आशु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआशु
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
निधनम्death, destruction
निधनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनिधन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
व्रजgo, attain
व्रज:
TypeVerb
Rootव्रज्
FormImperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
संशयम्doubt, uncertainty
संशयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्राप्यhaving obtained/encountered
प्राप्य:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + आप्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (sense)
जीवितेin life, in survival
जीविते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootजीवित
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
अपिeven
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
पराक्रमेin valor/effort (in battle)
पराक्रमे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपराक्रम
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
Vāyu (Vāyudeva)S
serpent (ahi)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
One should uphold dharma through fearless effort: even when death is likely, a righteous warrior must show parākrama (heroic resolve) rather than retreat in fear.
Vāyu exhorts the listener to confront a dangerous, snake-like enemy decisively—breaking the ‘fangs’ (power to harm) even if it costs one’s life—urging steadfast valor amid uncertainty.