विदुरोवाच
अथैतस्याम् अवस्थायां पौरुषं हातुम् इच्छसि ॥
निहीनसेवितं मार्गं गमिष्यस्य् अचिराद् इव ॥
यो हि तेजो यथाशक्ति न दर्शयति विक्रमात् ॥
क्षत्रियो जीविताकाङ्क्षी स्तेन इत्य् एव तं विदुः ॥
अर्थवन्त्य् उपपन्नानि वाक्यानि गुणवन्ति च ॥
नैव संप्राप्नुवन्ति त्वां मुमूर्षुम् इव भेषजम् ॥
सन्ति वै सिन्धुराजस्य संतुष्टा बहवो जनाः ॥
दौर्बल्याद् आसते मूढा व्यसनौघप्रतीक्षिणः ॥
सहायोपचयं कृत्वा व्यवसाय्य ततस् ततः ॥
अनुदुष्येयुर् अपरे पश्यन्तस् तव पौरुषम् ॥
vidurovāca
athaitasyām avasthāyāṃ pauruṣaṃ hātum icchasi ||
nihīnasevitaṃ mārgaṃ gamiṣyasy acirād iva ||
yo hi tejo yathāśakti na darśayati vikramāt ||
kṣatriyo jīvitākāṅkṣī stena ity eva taṃ viduḥ ||
arthavanty upapannāni vākyāni guṇavanti ca ||
naiva saṃprāpnuvanti tvāṃ mumūrṣum iva bheṣajam ||
santi vai sindhurājasya saṃtuṣṭā bahavo janāḥ ||
daurbalyād āsate mūḍhā vyasanaughapratīkṣiṇaḥ ||
sahāyopacayaṃ kṛtvā vyavasāyya tatas tataḥ ||
anuduṣyeyur apare paśyantas tava pauruṣam ||
Vidura said: ‘So in this state of affairs, do you wish to abandon manly courage? It seems you will soon walk the path that lowly men tread. A kshatriya who, wishing only to live, does not display his strength and valor to the best of his ability is simply called a thief. Meaningful, well-founded, and worthy words do not reach you, as medicine does not reach one who wishes to die. The king of Sindhu has many contented people; out of weakness they sit, foolish, awaiting a flood of misfortunes. Having gathered allies and acted resolutely here and there, others, seeing your courage, would join you.’
57b4b4b725e0 · published Jul 17, 2026, 5:59:56 AM UTC
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Vidura continues to instruct his son in the spirit of kshatriya dharma: a life without dignity, without support for one's own people, and without readiness to act becomes a slow death. Strength here is needed not for the sake of pride, but for the protection of family, duty, and rightful standing.