Vidur Niti Excerpts

Vidur Niti is a book within the Mahabharata. This is a dialogue between Dhritarashtra and Vidur, his minister. In the conversation, Vidur shares many nuggets of niti (policy) wisdom, and towards the end, Dhritarashtra broaches the subject of what to do with the Pandavas. 

I read the translation by Chaukhamba Prakashan. The book is very interesting. Sharing some excerpts that i really liked. The Sanskrit is original, English translations are mine and Hindi translations may be original or may be slightly modified from the book's translation. The book's translation has not been copied verbatim anywhere.  

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अमित्रं कुरुते मित्रं मित्रं द्वेष्टि हिनस्ति च

कर्म चारभते दुष्टं तमाहुमूढ़चेतसम्   

 अर्थ: वह जो अमित्र (शत्रु) को मित्र बनाता है, मित्र से द्वेष रखता है और उसे हीन (नीचा) समझता है, और दुष्ट कर्म को शुरू करता है, उसे ही मूढ़ (मूर्ख) बुद्धि वाला कहा गया है।

Meaning: One who befriends the enemy, views a true friend with contempt or looks down upon a true friend, or one who starts an evil task – such a person is a fool.

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हरणं च परस्वानां परदाराभिमर्शनम्

सुहृदश्रव् परित्यागंसत्रयो दोषा: क्षयावहा:

 

अर्थ: दूसरों के धन का हरण करना, दूसरे की स्त्री से मिलन, और सच्चे मित्र का परित्याग (छोड़ देना) – ये तीनों दोष क्षय (हानि) कारक होते हैं।

To take another’s wealth, to sleep with another’s wife, and to leave a real friend – all these three faults lead to harm.

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षडिमान् पुरुषो जह्याद् भिन्नां नावमिवार्णवे

अप्रवक्तारमाचार्यमनधीयानमृत्विजम्

अरक्षितारं राजानं भार्यां  चाप्रियवादिनीम्

ग्रामकामं च गोपालं वनकामं च नापितम्

अर्थ: मनुष्य इन 6 वस्तुओं को वैसे ही छोड़ दे जैसे समुद्र में भिन्न (टूटी हुई) नाव को छोड़ा जाता है: ठीक ना बोलने वाले आचार्य को, मंत्र न पढ़ने वाले ऋत्विक (पुजारी) को, रक्षा ना करने वाला राजा को, कटु बोलने वाली स्त्री को, गाँव में रहने वाले ग्वाले को (क्यूंकि उसे वन में गैया के साथ रहना चाहिए), और वन में रहने की इच्छा रखने वाले नाई को।

Meaning: These six things should be left as one abandons a damaged boat in the sea: A teacher who does not give the right discourse, a priest who does not utter the mantras, a king who does not protect, a woman who does not speak sweetly, a cowherd who prefers to live in the village, and a barber who wishes to live in the forest. (Barbers were also social network agencies in Indian society. They were responsible for spying, carrying messages from one house to another, prospecting for and fixing matrimonial alliances, and entertaining the patron while providing regular barber services with anecdotes and gossip).

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षडेव तु गुणा: पुंसां न हातव्या: कदाचन

सत्यं दानमनालस्यमनसूया क्षमा धृति:

अर्थ: इन 6 गुणों को कभी नहीं छोड़ना चाहिए: सत्य, दान, आलस्य न करना, द्वेष न रखना, क्षमा, और धैर्य रखना।

These 6 qualities should never be abandoned: Truth, generosity, not being lazy, holding no malice, forgiveness, and patience.

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Vidur ji slaying individualism a few millennia before Ayn Rand

त्यजेत् कुलार्थे पुरुषम् ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलम् त्यजेत् 
ग्रामम् जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् 

For the (welfare of) family, let go of a person 

For the village, let go of the family. 

For the country, let go of the village 

For the welfare of oneself, let go of the entire Earth. 

- Vidura Neeti 

Today's Conundrum: Why the Dwivachan?

 Actually, this conundrum is not new. It has been troubling me since i started learning Sanskrit. 

As far as I know, most languages in the world have 2 states -Singular, and Plural (Ekvachan- Bahuvachan)

Sanskrit is the only language where there are 3 states - 1, two, and more than 2 (Ekvachan, Dwivachan, Bahuvachan)

None of the derivative languages of Sanskrit have inherited this unique trait of Sanskrit, not even Hindi, which is grammatically closest to Sanskrit.

We have not found this (in as much as we know) in Prakrit or Pali either.

The Dwivachan is so important that for every word, every verb, there is a Dwivachan defined. - Akarant, Ikarant, Ukarant, Pulling, Stiling, Napunsakling, Dhatu Roop - everything.

That meant significant work for Panini and his team.

WHY was the count of 2 so important?

I think that the day we solve this puzzle, we will answer some very important questions about Indian history.

Sanksrit Sukti on getting rid of enmity

न हि वैरेण वैराणि
शाम्यन्तीह कदाचन
अवैरेण तु शाम्यन्ति
एष धर्म: सनातन:

Na hi VaireN VairaaNi
Shaamyanteeha Kadachan
AvaireiN tu Shaamyanti
Aesha Dharma: Sanaatanan:

Meaning:
Enmity can never be quieted(removed) by enmity.
It can be removed only through friendship.
That is the ancient truth. (the word Dharma is used to mean truth here)

Sanskrit Sukti on Mother and Truth

नास्ति मातृसमो गुरु: 
नास्ति सत्यसमो धर्मो 
Nasti MatriSamo Guru:
Nasti SatyaSamo Dharmo

Meaning: There is no teacher like the mother.
And no Dharama better than Truth. 

Sanskrit Sukti on donating food

अन्नस्य क्षुधितं पात्रं 
अन्नस्य - Of (receiving) food - अन्न का 
क्षुधितं - A hungry person - भूखा व्यक्ति 

पात्रं - is deserving - पात्र है.

A hungry person is a deserving recipient of food. 

Sanskrit Sukti on the importance of commerce and trade

वाणिज्य वसते लक्ष्मी: 
VaNijya Vasate Lakshmi:

In commerce resides Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth)

Sanskrit Lokokti and Hindi Doha

श्व: कार्यमद्य कर्तव्यं


Do tomorro's work today. Don't leave it to tomorrow.


Kabir Das' Doha which says the same thing:


काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब 
पल में परलय होएगी, बहुर करेगो कब 

Sanskrit Wisdom and Hindi Muhavara

ज्ञानं भार: क्रियां विना


Having knowledge(Gyaan), but not acting like one is an aware person, makes the knowledge as useless as a burden. (Even if you are very knowledgeable, if you don't act, what use is all that knowledge?)


हिंदी मुहावरा: एक पंथ दो काज


To kill two birds with one stone - when one action meets two needs or two goals.

Sanskrit Lokokti, Hindi Muhavara

 यज्ञो वै श्रेष्ठतमं कर्म.


The best offering/prayer (yagya) is (good) action.


जाकी रही भावना जैसी, प्रभु मूरत तिन देखि तैसी
This quote first appears in Ram Charit Manas. It is said that when Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya, all the residents rushed to the gates to welcome him, and each one desired that the Lord should meet him/her first. Shri Ram divined this desire in the heart of every devotee, and accordingly, appeared in front of everyone. To each, he appeared as a reflection of their own selves. The quote means that the Lord is nothing but a reflection of our own intentions, desires and motivation. As one feels, thus the Lord appears. Those who see him as benevolent, find him benevolent. Those who see him as a fair and just king find that he is indeed, just that. The quote has a much wider application. What it really means is - We see the world not as it is, but as we are.

Sanskrit Lokokti and Hindi Muhavara

अशान्तस्य कुत: सुखम् ?


जो अशांत है, उसे सुख कहाँ?




Those who are not content, how can they find happiness?


नाम बड़े और दर्शन छोटे
When someone is very famous and we think very highly of them, based on their reputation, but when we finally meet them, we are underwhelmed. So someone who has a great reputation but very little substance.

Hindi Muhavara and Sanskrit Lokokti

ब्रह्म वेद ब्रह्मेव भवति


He who knows the Brahma , becomes the Brahma.


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बीती तांहि बिसार दे, आगे की सुधि ले


Forget about what has happened in the past, and pay conscious attention (सुधि) to what lies ahead.

Sanskrit Saying/ Sanskrit Lokokti

न च व्याधिसमो रिपु:


There is no enemy as bad as ill health.


न - There isn't


व्याधि - disease/ill health
समो - like


रिपु: - enemy

Sanskrit Lokokti

काक: काक: पिक: पिक:


कौवा कौवा है और कोयल कोयल.


A crow is a crow and a koel is a koel. Just because they look similar, they are not the same.

Sanskrit Saying on the impermanence of life

आयुष्यं जललोलबिन्दुचपलम्


Life is as temporary is a dot on the surface of water(a bubble)


Kabir expresses the same thought as under:


 पानी केरा बुदबुदा, अस मानुस की जात 
देखत ही छुप जाएगा, ज्यूँ तारा परभात


The human life is like a bubble on the surface of water
It will extinguish just as the star becomes invisible at the first sight of dawn.

Sanskrit Lokoti on inherent nature

अङ्गार शतधौतेन मलिनत्वं न मुञ्चति


Coal does not lose its dark side, no matter how much it is washed.


Meaning: A person cannot lose their inherent nature, no matter how much you try to reform them.

Holi Greetings in Sanskrit

सर्वेभ्य: होलिका पर्वण्: हार्दिक्य शुभकामना:


सर्वेभ्य: - To all


होलिका पर्वण्: - Holi Festival


हार्दिक्य शुभकामना:  - Heartfelt (sincere) greetings




होलिका पर्वण्: शुभकामना: : Happy Holi!

Sanskrit lokokti / Muhawara

विनाशकाले विपरीत बुद्धि


When the time is bad, even the intellect fails and does the opposite of what is good.

Sanskrit Shlok on Vidya and Dhan (welath and wisdom)

धनहीनो न हीनश्च धनिक: स: सुनिश्चय:
विद्यारत्नेन हीनो य: स: हीन: सर्व वस्तुषु


He who is without money may not be called lowly, for he is certainly rich.
But the one who is without the jewel of vidya (learning),
He, for sure,
is the lowest of all (for he has nothing)

Sanskrit Lokokti / Sanskrit Saying

गते शोको न कर्तव्यान भविष्यं नैव चिन्तयेत्


One should neither feel bad for the past, nor waste time thinking of the future.
(i.e., Live in the present)




यस्य स्नेहो भयं तस्य स्नेहो दुखस्य भाजनम्
Where there is love between two people, only there do we care about the pain of the other person. (Where there is no love between 2 ppl, they do not care for each other's happiness, pain or approval.)