Shloka 24
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
Devanagari script
श्रुतेन तपसा वापि श्रिया वा विक्रमेण वा
Transliteration
śrutena tapasā vāpi śriyā vā vikrameṇa vā
Translation
或凭圣传之学识，或凭苦行，或凭富贵光华，或凭英雄之勇武……
Word by Word
श्रुतेनby learning / by sacred knowledge
श्रुतेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootश्रुति
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
तपसाby austerity / penance
तपसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
अपिalso / even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
श्रियाby prosperity / by fortune / by splendor
श्रिया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootश्री
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
विक्रमेणby valor / by prowess
विक्रमेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविक्रम
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
Vāyu (Wind-god)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse lists major sources of human excellence—learning, austerity, prosperity, and valor—implying that moral worth or rightful standing is not confined to a single kind of achievement; it can be grounded in multiple forms of merit, each carrying ethical responsibility.
Vāyu is speaking and begins a statement by enumerating different bases of distinction (scriptural learning, ascetic discipline, worldly fortune, and heroic power), setting up a broader point that continues in the surrounding verses.