Shloka 40
Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
Devanagari script
चलचित्तमनात्मानमिन्द्रियाणां वशानुगम् | अर्था: समभिवर्तन्ते हंसा: शुष्क॑ सरो यथा
Transliteration
calacittam anātmānam indriyāṇāṁ vaśānugam | arthāḥ samabhivartante haṁsāḥ śuṣka-saro yathā ||
Translation
毗度罗说：心神不宁、缺乏自制、随感官驱使之人，财富与机缘不会久留。正如天鹅只在干涸的湖上盘旋而不入其中，物质之利也只是靠近他，旋即离去——因为他内在无有节制。
Word by Word
चलrestless, fickle
चल:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootचल (प्रातिपदिक; √चल्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
चित्तम्mind
चित्तम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अनात्मानम्without self-control; unwise
अनात्मानम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअनात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इन्द्रियाणाम्of the senses
इन्द्रियाणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
वशunder control, in subjection
वश:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवश (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
अनुगम्following, compliant (to)
अनुगम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुग (प्रातिपदिक; from अनु + √गम्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अर्थाःobjects/benefits/wealth
अर्थाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
समभिवर्तन्तेturn away/withdraw; do not approach
समभिवर्तन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + अभि + √वृत् (वर्तते)
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Atmanepada
हंसाःswans
हंसाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहंस (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शुष्केin/when (it is) dry
शुष्के:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootशुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
सरसिin a lake
सरसि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
यथाjust as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
Speaker
विदुर उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
ViduraS
senses (indriyāṇi)S
swans (haṁsāḥ)D
dried lake (śuṣka-saraḥ)Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that prosperity is sustained by self-mastery. A fickle mind and slavery to the senses destroy steadiness, so wealth and opportunities do not remain; they merely appear and then depart.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he delivers moral instruction (Vidura-nīti), warning that inner instability and sense-driven living undermine one’s capacity to retain artha (resources and success).