Vidura Niti - Directory Listing For Ia801308.us.archive

Vidura Nitiperson who worships another simplybecause the latter is worshipped by others.।॥ ५२॥These two are like sharp thorns afflicting thebody, viz., the desires of a poor man, and theanger of the impotent.।॥- ॥These two persons never shine because oftheir incompatible acts, viz., a householderwithout exertion, and a beggar busied inschemes.।॥ ५३॥27

Vidura NitiThese two, O king, live (as it were) in aregion higher than heaven itself, viz., a manof power endued with forgiveness, and poorman that is charitable.।॥ ५४॥Of things honestly got, these two must belooked upon as misuse, viz., making gifts tothe unworthy and refusing the worthy.।॥- ॥These two should be thrown into the water,tightly binding weights to their necks, viz., awealthy man that doth not give away, and apoor man that is proud.।॥- ॥28

Vidura NitiThese two, O tiger among men, can piercethe orb itself of the sun, viz., a mendicantaccomplished in yoga, and a warrior thathath fallen in open fight.।॥ ५५॥O bull of the Bharata race, persons versed inthe Vedas have said that men's means aregood, middling, and bad.।॥ ५६॥Men also, O king, are good, indifferent, andbad. They should, therefore, be respectivelyemployed in that kind of work for whichthey may be fit.29

Vidura Niti।॥ ५७॥These three, O king, cannot have wealth oftheir own, viz., the wife, the slave, and theson, and whatever may be earned by themwould be his to whom they belong.।॥- ॥Great fear springeth from these three crimes,viz., theft of other's property, outrage onother's wives, and breach with friend.।॥- ॥These three, besides, being destructive toone's own self, are the gates of hell, viz., lust,30

Vidura Nitianger, and covetousness. Therefore, everyone should renounce them.।॥- ॥Verily, O Bharata, liberating a foe fromdistress, alone amounteth in point of merit,to these three taken together, viz., conferringa boon, acquiring a kingdom, and obtaininga son.भ।॥- ॥These three should never be forsaken even inimminent danger, viz., a follower, one whoseeks protection, saying,--I am thine,--andlastly one who hath come to your abode.।31

Vidura Niti॥ ५८॥Learned men have declared that a king,although powerful, should never consultwith these four, viz., men of small sense,men that are procrastinating, men that areindolent, and men that are flatterers.।॥ ५९॥O sire, crowned with prosperity and leadingthe life of a householder, let these four dwellwith thee, viz., old consanguineous,relatives, high-born persons fallen intoadversity, poor friends, and issueless sisters.32

Vidura Niti।॥ ६०॥।॥ ६१॥On being asked by the chief of the celestials,Vrihaspati, O mighty king declared fourthings capable of fructifying or occurringwithin a single day, viz., the resolve of thegods, the comprehensions of intelligentpersons, the humility of learned men, andthe destruction of the sinful.।॥- ॥These four that are calculated to remove fear,bring on fear when they are improperly33

Vidura Nitiperformed, viz., the Agni-hotra, the vow ofsilence, study, and sacrifice (in general).।॥ ६२॥O bull of the Bharata race, these five fires,should be worshipped with regard by aperson, viz., father, mother, fire (proper),soul and preceptor.।॥ ६३॥By serving these five, men attain great famein this world, viz., the gods, the Pitris, men,beggars, and guests.म।॥ ६४॥34

Vidura NitiWherever you go, these five – friends,enemies, neutral persons, those who offerrefuge and those who take refuge in you –will follow you.।॥ ६५॥Of the five senses beholding to man, if onespringeth a leak, then from that single holerunneth out all his intelligence, even likewater running out from a perforated leathernvessel.।॥ ६६॥The six faults should be avoided by a personwho wisheth to attain prosperity, viz., sleep,drowsiness, fear, anger, indolence andprocrastination.35

Vidura Niti।॥ ६७॥।॥ ६८॥These six should be renounced like asplitting vessel in the sea, viz., a preceptorthat cannot expound the scriptures, a priestthat is illiterate, a king that is unable toprotect, a wife that speaketh disagreeablewords, a cow-herd that doth not wish to goto the fields, and a barber that wisheth torenounce a village for the woods.।॥ ६९॥Verily, those six qualities should never beforsaken by men, viz., truth, charity,diligence, benevolence, forgiveness andpatience.36

Vidura Niti।॥- ॥These six, O king, comprise the happiness ofmen,viz.,acquirementofwealth,uninterrupted health, a beloved and a sweetspeeched wife, an obedient son, andknowledge that is lucrative.।॥ ७०॥He that succeedeth in gaining the masteryover the six that are always present in thehuman heart, being thus the master of hissenses, never committeth sin, and thereforesuffereth calamity.37

Vidura Niti।॥ ७१॥।॥ ७२॥These six may be seen to subsist upon othersix, viz., thieves, upon persons that arecareless; physicians, on persons that areailing; women, upon persons suffering fromlust; priests, upon them that sacrifice; a king,upon persons that quarrel; and lastly men oflearning, upon them that are without it.।॥- ॥These six are instantly destroyed, ifneglected, viz., kine, service, agriculture, awife, learning, and the wealth of a Sudra.38

Vidura Niti।॥- ॥।॥- ॥These six forget those who have bestowedobligations on them, viz., educated disciples,their preceptors; married persons, theirmothers; persons whose desires have beengratified, women; they who have achievedsuccess, they who had rendered aid; theywho have crossed a river, the boat (thatcarried them over); and patients that havebeen cured, their physicians.।॥- ॥39

Vidura NitiHealth, unindebtedness, living at home,companionship with good men, certainty asregards the means of livelihood, and livingwithout fear, these six, O king, conduce tothe happiness of men.।॥- ॥These six are always miserable, viz., theenvious, the malicious, the discontented, theirascible, the ever-suspicious, and thosedepending upon the fortunes of others.।॥ ७३॥।॥ ७४॥A king should renounce these seven faultsthat are productive of calamity, inasmuch as40

Vidura Nitithey are able to effect the ruin of evenmonarchs firmly established; these arewomen, dice, hunting, drinking, harshness ofspeech, severity of punishment, and misuseof wealth.।॥ ७५॥।॥ ७६॥।॥ ७७॥These eight are the immediate indications ofa man destined to destruction, viz., hatingthe Brahmanas, disputes with Brahmanas,appropriation of a Brahmana's possessions,taking the life of Brahmana, taking apleasure in reviling Brahmanas, grieving tohear the praises of Brahmanas, forgettingthem on ceremonious occasions, and giving41

Vidura Nitivent to spite when they ask for anything.These transgressions a wise man shouldunderstand, and understanding, eschew.।॥ ७८॥।॥ ७९॥।॥ ८०॥These eight, O Bharata, are the very cream ofhappiness, and these only are attainablehere, viz., meeting with friends, accession ofimmense wealth, embracing a son, union forintercourse, conversation with friends inproper times, the advancement of personsbelong to one's own party, the acquisition ofwhat had been anticipated, and respect insociety.42

Vidura Niti।॥- ॥These eight qualities glorify a man, viz.,wisdom, high birth, self-restraint, learning,prowess, moderation in speech giftaccording to one's power, and gratitude.।॥ ८१॥This house hath nine doors, three pillars, andfive witnesses. It is presided over by the soul.That learned man who knoweth all this istruly wise.।॥ ८२॥।॥ ८३॥43

Vidura NitiO Dhritarashtra, these ten do not know whatvirtue is viz., the intoxicated, inattentive, theraving, the fatigued, the angry, the starving,the hasty, the covetous, the frightened, andthe lustful. Therefore, he that is wise musteschew the company of these.।॥ ८४॥In this connection is cited the old story aboutwhat transpired between Suyodhana and(Prahlada), the chief of the Asuras in relationto the latter's son.।॥८५॥That king who renounceth lust and anger,who bestoweth wealth upon properrecipients, and is discriminating, learned,44

Vidura Nitiand active, is regarded as an authority of allmen.।॥८६॥Great prosperity attends upon that king whoknoweth how to inspire confidence in others,who inflicteth punishment on those whoseguilt hath been proved, who is acquaintedwith the proper measure of punishment, andwho knoweth when mercy is to be shown.।॥८७॥He is a wise person who doth not disregardeven a weak foe; who proceeds withintelligence in respect of a foe, anxiouslywatching for an opportunity; who doth notdesire hostilities with persons stronger thanhimself; and who displayeth his prowess inseason.45

Vidura Niti।॥८८॥That illustrious person who doth not grievewhen a calamity hath already come uponhim, who exerteth with all his sensescollected, and who patiently beareth miseryin season, is certainly the foremost ofpersons, and all his foes are vanquished.।॥ ८९॥He who doth not live away from homeuselessly, who doth not make friends withsinful persons, who never outragethanother's wife, who never betrayetharrogance, and who never committeth a theftor showeth ingratitude or indulgeth indrinking is always happy.।46

Vidura Niti॥९०॥He who never boastfully striveth to attainthe three objects of human pursuit, whowhen asked, telleth the truth, who quarrelethnot even for the sake of friends, and whonever becometh angry though slighted, isreckoned as wise.।He who beareth not malicebut is kind to all, who beingnot with others, whoarrogantly, and forgetethpraised everywhere.॥९१॥towards othersweak disputethspeaketh nota quarrel, is।॥९२॥That man who never assumeth a haughtymien, who never censureth others praising47

Vidura Nitihimself the while, and never addressethharsh words to others for getting himself, isever loved by all.।॥९३॥He who raketh not up old hostilities, whobehaveth neither arrogantly nor with toomuch humility, and who even whendistressed never committeth an improperact, is considered by respectable men aperson of good conduct.।॥९४॥He who exulteth not at his own happiness,nor delighteth in another's misery, and whorepenteth not after having made a gift, issaid to be a man of good nature and conduct.48

Vidura Niti।॥९५॥He who desireth to obtain knowledge of thecustoms of different countries, and also thelanguages of different nations, and of theusages of different orders of men, knowethat once all that is high and low; andwherever he may go, he is sure to gain anascendancy over even those that are glad.।॥९६॥The intelligent man who relinquisheth pride,folly, insolence, sinful acts, disloyaltytowards the king, crookedness of behaviour,enmity with many, and also quarrels withmen that are drunk, mad and wicked, is theforemost of his species.।49

Vidura Niti॥९७॥The very gods bestow prosperity upon himwhodailypractisethself-restraint,purification, auspicious rites, worship of thegods, expiatory ceremonies, and other ritesof universal observance.।॥९८॥The acts of that learned man are wellconceived, and well-applied who formethmatrimonial alliances with persons of equalpositions and not with those that are inferior,who placeth those before him that are morequalified, and who talketh, behaveth andmaketh friendships with persons of equalposition.।॥९९॥50

Vidura NitiHe who eateth frugally after dividing thefood amongst his dependants, who sleepethlittle after working much, and who, whensolicited giveth away even unto his foes,hath his soul under control, and calamitiesalways keep themselves aloof from him.।॥१००॥He whose counsels are well-kept and wellcarried out into practice, and whose acts inconsequence thereof are never known byothers to injure men, succeedeth in securingeven his most trifling objects.।॥१०१॥He who is intent upon abstaining frominjury to all creatures, who is truthful, gentle,51

Vidura Niticharitable, and pure in mind, shineth greatlyamong his kinsmen like a precious gem ofthe purest ray having its origin in anexcellent mine.।॥१०२॥That man who feeleth shame even thoughhis faults be not known to any save himself,is highly honoured among all men.Possessed of a pure heart and boundlessenergy and abstracted within himself, heshineth in consequence of his energy like thevery sun.।॥१०३॥।॥१०४॥King Pandu consumed by a (Brahmana's)curse, had five sons born unto him in the52

Vidura Nitiwoods that are like five Indras. O son ofAmbika, thou hast brought up those childrenand taught them everything. They areobedient to thy commands. Giving themback their just share of the kingdom, O sire,filled with joy, be thou happy with thy sons.Then, O monarch, thou shalt inspireconfidence in both the gods and men.'"॥॥53

Vidura Niti३४।।॥ १॥"Dhritarashtra said, 'Tell me what may bedone by a person that is sleepless andburning with anxieties, for thou aloneamongst us, O child, art versed in bothreligion and profit. Advise me wisely, OVidura.।॥ २॥।॥ ३॥O thou of magnanimous heart, tell me whatis thou deemest to be beneficial forAjatasatru and what is productive of good to54

Vidura Nitithe Kurus. Apprehending future evils, I lookback only on my previous guilt: I ask theewith anxious heart, O learned one, tell mewhat is exactly in Ajatasatru's mind’.।।॥ ४॥"Vidura said, 'Even if unasked, one shouldspeak truly, whether his words be good orbad, hateful or pleasing, unto him whosedefeat one doth not wish.।॥ ५॥I shall, therefore, say, O king, what is for thegood of the Kurus. I shall say what is bothbeneficial and consistent with morality.Listen to me.55

Vidura Niti।॥ ६॥।॥ ७॥Do not, O Bharata, set the heart upon meansof success that are unjust and improper. Aman of intelligence must not grieve if anypurpose of his doth not succeed,notwithstanding the application of fair andproper means.।॥ ८॥Before one engageth in an act, one shouldconsider the competence of the agent, thenature of the act itself, and its purpose, for allacts are dependent on these. Consideringthese one should begin an act, and not take itup on a sudden impulse.56

Vidura Niti।॥ ९॥He that is wise should either do an act ordesist from it fully considering his ownability, the nature of the act, and theconsequence also of success.।॥ १०॥The king, who knoweth not proportion ormeasure as regards territory, gain, loss,treasury, population, and punishment,cannot retain his kingdom long.।॥ ११॥He, on the other hand, who is acquaintedwith the measures of these as prescribed in57

Vidura Nititreatises, being necessarily possessed of theknowledge of religion and profit, can retainhis kingdom.।॥ १२॥As the stars are affected by the planets, so isthis world affected by the senses, when theyare directed, uncontrolled, to their respectiveobjects.।॥ १३॥Like the moon during the lighted fortnight,calamities increase in respect of him who isvanquished by the five senses in their naturalstate, which ever lead him towards variousacts.58

Vidura Niti।॥ १४॥He who wisheth to control his counsellorsbefore controlling his own self, or to subduehis adversaries before controlling hiscounsellors, at last succumbs deprived ofstrength.।॥ १५॥He, therefore, who first subdueth his ownself regarding it as a foe, never faileth tosubdue his counsellors and adversaries atlast.।॥ १६॥59

Vidura NitiGreat prosperity waiteth upon him who hathsubdued his senses, or controlled his soul, orwho is capable of punishing all offenders, orwho acteth with judgment or who is blessedwith patience.।॥१७॥One's body, O king, is one's car; the soulwithin is the driver; and the senses are itssteeds. Drawn by those excellent steeds,when well-trained, he that is wise, pleasantlyperformeth the journey of life, and awake inpeace.।॥ १८॥The horses that are unbroken and incapableof being controlled, always lead an unskillfuldriver to destruction in the course of the60

Vidura Nitijourney; so one's senses, unsubdued, leadonly to destruction.।॥ १९॥The inexperienced wight, who, led by thisunsubdued senses, hopeth to extract evilfrom good and good from evil, necessarilyconfoundeth misery with happiness.।॥ २०॥He, who, forsaking religion and profit,followeth the lead of his senses, losethwithout delay prosperity, life, wealth andwife.।॥ २१॥61

Vidura NitiHe, who is the master of riches but not of hissenses, certainly loseth his riches inconsequence of his want of mastery over hissenses.।॥ २२॥One should seek to know one's self by meansof one's own self, controlling one's mind,intellect, and senses, for one's self is one'sfriend as, indeed, it is one's own foe. Thatman, who hath conquered self by means ofself, hath his self for a friend, for one's self isever one's friend or foe.।॥ २३॥Desire and anger, O king, break throughwisdom, just as a large fish breaks through anet of thin cords.62

Vidura Niti।॥ २४॥He, who in this world regarding bothreligion and profit, seeketh to acquire themeans of success, winneth happiness,possessing all he had sought.।॥ २५॥He, who, without subduing his five innerfoes of mental origin, wisheth to vanquishother adversaries, is, in fact, overpowered bythe latter.।॥ २६॥It is seen that many evil-minded kings,owing to want of mastery over their senses,63

Vidura Nitiare ruined by acts of their own, occasionedby the lust of territory.।॥ २७॥As fuel that is wet burneth with that which isdry, so a sinless man is punished equallywith the sinful in consequence of constantassociation with the latter.।॥ २८॥Therefore, friendship with the sinful shouldbe avoided. He that, from ignorance, failethto control his five greedy foes, having fivedistinct objects, is overwhelmed bycalamities.64

Vidura Niti।॥ २९॥Guilelessness and simplicity, purity andcontentment, sweetness of speech and selfrestraint, truth and steadiness,--these arenever the attributes of the wicked.।॥ ३०॥Self-knowledge and steadiness, patience anddevotion to virtue, competence to keepcounsels and charity,--these,--O Bharata,never exist in inferior men.।॥ ३१॥Fools seek to injure the wise by falsereproachesandevilspeeches,The65

Vidura Niticonsequence is, that by this they take uponthemselves the sins of the wise, while thelatter, freed from their sins, are forgiven.।॥ ३२॥In malice lieth the strength of the wicked; incriminal code, the strength of kings, inattentions of the weak and of women; and inforgiveness that of the virtuous.।॥ ३३॥To control speech, O king, is said to be mostdifficult. It is not easy to hold a longconversation uttering words full of meaningand delightful to the hearers.।66

Vidura Niti॥ ३४॥Well-spoken speech is productive of manybeneficial results; and ill-spoken speech, Oking, is the cause of evils.।॥ ३५॥A forest pierced by arrows, or cut down byhatchets may again grow, but one's heartwounded and censured by ill-spoken wordsnever recovereth.।॥ ३६॥Weapons, such as arrows, bullets, andbearded darts, can be easily extracted fromthe body, but a wordy dagger plunged deepin

Sanskrit UnicodeText: www.sanskritdocuments.org Sanskrit Text of Mahabharata: Vedic Reserve at www.mum.org English Translation by KM Ganguli: www.sacred-texts.com . Vidura Niti 2 ॥अथ ॥ (Vidura’s teachings on right conduct extracted from Mahabharata) । ॥ १॥