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Shloka 39

Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum

Udyoga-parva 35

चलचित्तस्य वै पुंसो वृद्धाननुपसेवत: । पारिप्लवमतेर्नित्यमप्चुवो मित्रसंग्रह:,जिसका चित्त चंचल है, जो वृद्धोंकी सेवा नहीं करता, उस अनिश्चितमति पुरुषके लिये मित्रोंका संग्रह स्थायी नहीं होता

calacittasya vai puṁso vṛddhān anupasevataḥ | pāriplavamater nityam apy uvo mitrasaṅgrahaḥ ||

毗度罗教诲:心志浮动而不侍奉、不亲近长者以求教者,难以使友谊长久。判断摇摆之人,即便结交与维系盟友朋友,也终归不稳、不可信。

चलrestless, fickle
चल:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootचल (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
चित्तस्यof the mind
चित्तस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootचित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
पुंसःof a man
पुंसः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
वृद्धान्elders
वृद्धान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अनुपसेवतःof (one) not serving / not attending upon
अनुपसेवतः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअनु-उप-सेव् (धातु)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular, शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Parasmaipada (active participle)
पारिप्लवunsteady, wavering
पारिप्लव:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootपारिप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
मतेःof (his) understanding/judgment
मतेः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमति (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
नित्यम्always
नित्यम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
अच्युवःAcyuta (Krishna)
अच्युवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मित्रसंग्रहःgathering/retention of friends
मित्रसंग्रहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमित्रसंग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
E
elders (vṛddhāḥ)
F
friends/allies (mitrāṇi)

Educational Q&A

Stability of mind and reverence for elders are prerequisites for stable relationships. A wavering, undisciplined person who ignores elder guidance cannot reliably form or sustain friendships and alliances.

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he offers ethical and practical guidance (nīti) about character and conduct. Here he warns that fickleness and neglect of elder counsel undermine one’s social bonds, especially friendships and alliances.