Shloka 256

Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma

Devanagari script

नृशंस्थामयशस्यां च दुःखां कापुरुषोचिताम्‌ | तुझे हिजड़ों

Transliteration

nṛśaṃsathāmayayaśasyāṃ ca duḥkhāṃ kāpuruṣocitām |

Translation

风神伐由宣示：“切莫依赖卑贱的生计——如乞讨之类——那只适合残忍者与怯懦者；因为它散布恶名，招致痛苦。其伦理旨趣在于告诫：不可为苟活而舍弃可敬之行，转投卑下之道；此等选择会腐蚀名誉，也侵蚀内心的安宁。”

Word by Word

• नृशंस: cruel, pitiless
• नृशंस: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आमय: disease, affliction
• आमय: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमय
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• यशस्याम्: bringing fame/renown (here: affecting fame)
• यशस्याम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दुःखाम्: painful, causing sorrow
• दुःखाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कापुरुष: of cowards/base men
• Type: Noun
• Root: कापुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• उचिताम्: proper, suitable
• उचिताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचिता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not adopt a degrading livelihood that is associated with cruelty or cowardice; such conduct spreads ill-fame (ayaśas) and results in suffering (duḥkha). Dharma is upheld by choosing honorable means even under pressure.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is speaking a moral admonition within the Udyoga Parva context, emphasizing standards of conduct and warning against ignoble survival-strategies that undermine one’s dignity and reputation.