Shloka 53

Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38

Devanagari script

अपनीतं सुनीतेन यो<र्थ प्रत्यानिनीषते । मतिमास्थाय सुदृढां तदकापुरुषव्रतम्‌,जो नष्ट हुए धनको स्थिर बुद्धिका आश्रय ले अच्छी नीतिसे पुनः लौटा लानेकी इच्छा करता है, वह वीर पुरुषोंका-सा आचरण करता है

Transliteration

apanītaṃ sunītena yo 'rthaṃ pratyāniniṣate | matim āsthāya sudṛḍhāṃ tad akā-puruṣa-vratam ||

Translation

毗度罗说：人若失其财，而能依坚固之判断，立志以善策与正行再取回之，此乃真勇士之誓行与操守。

Word by Word

• अपनीतम्: taken away, removed
• अपनीतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप-नी (धातु) / अपनीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सुनीतेन: by good policy/wise conduct
• सुनीतेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अर्थम्: wealth, purpose (here: wealth)
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रत्यानीनीषते: wishes to bring back/restore
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• मतिम्: mind, resolve
• मतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थाय: having resorted to, adopting
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• सुदृढाम्: very firm (as an attribute of resolve)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अकापुरुषव्रतम्: having the vow/conduct of a true man (i.e., manly conduct)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकापुरुषव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• artha (wealth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even after loss, one should not collapse into despair or rashness; with steady resolve and sound policy (su-nīti), one may rightly strive to restore one’s resources—this is presented as noble, manly discipline.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he articulates principles of wise conduct and governance; here he praises the steadfast person who seeks to regain lost wealth through prudent, ethical means.