Vidura's Veiled Warning

Verse 1 (1.157.1)

पाण्डवास्तु रथान्युक्तान्सदश्वैरनिलोपमैः । आरोहमाणा भीष्मस्य पादौ जगृहुरार्तवत् ॥

pāṇḍavāstu rathānyuktānsadaśvairanilopamaiḥ | ārohamāṇā bhīṣmasya pādau jagṛhurārtavat

As they mounted their chariots, yoked with fine horses swift as the wind, the Pandavas sorrowfully clasped the feet of Bhishma,

Verse 2 (1.157.2)

राज्ञश्च धृतराष्ट्रस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः । अन्येषां चैव वृद्धानां कृपस्य विदुरस्य च ॥

rājñaśca dhṛtarāṣṭrasya droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ | anyeṣāṃ caiva vṛddhānāṃ kṛpasya vidurasya ca

of King Dhritarashtra, of the great-souled Drona, of the other elders, and of Kripa and Vidura.

Verse 3 (1.157.3)

एवं सर्वान्कुरून्वृद्धानभिवाद्य यतव्रताः । समालिङ्ग्य समानान्वै बालैश्चाप्यभिवादिताः ॥

evaṃ sarvānkurūnvṛddhānabhivādya yatavratāḥ | samāliṅgya samānānvai bālaiścāpyabhivāditāḥ

Having saluted all the elder Kurus in this way, those men of disciplined vows embraced their equals and were saluted by the young.

Verse 4 (1.157.4)

सर्वा मातॄस्तथाऽऽपृच्छ्य कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम् । प्रकृतीरपि सर्वाश्च प्रययुर्वारणावतम् ॥

sarvā mātṝstathā''pṛcchya kṛtvā caiva pradakṣiṇam | prakṛtīrapi sarvāśca prayayurvāraṇāvatam

Taking leave of all the mothers as well and walking round them reverently, and of all the subjects too, they set out for Varanavata.

Verse 5 (1.157.5)

विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञस्तथाऽन्ये कुरुपुङ्गवाः । पौराश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रानन्वीयुः शोककर्शिताः ॥

viduraśca mahāprājñastathā'nye kurupuṅgavāḥ | paurāśca puruṣavyāghrānanvīyuḥ śokakarśitāḥ

The wise Vidura and the other bulls among the Kurus, and the townspeople too, followed those tigers among men, worn down with grief.

Verse 6 (1.157.6)

तत्र केचिद्ब्रुवन्ति स्म ब्राह्मणा निर्भयास्तदा । दीनान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुसुतानतीव भृशदुःखिताः ॥

tatra kecidbruvanti sma brāhmaṇā nirbhayāstadā | dīnāndṛṣṭvā pāṇḍusutānatīva bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ

Then some brahmins there, deeply grieved at seeing the sons of Pandu so downcast, spoke out fearlessly:

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.6 (first line matches; the second reads śocamānāḥ pāṇḍuputrān atīva bharatarṣabha).

Verse 7 (1.157.7)

विषमं पश्यते राजा सर्वथा स सुमन्दधीः । कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रस्तु न च धर्मं प्रपश्यति ॥

viṣamaṃ paśyate rājā sarvathā sa sumandadhīḥ | kauravyo dhṛtarāṣṭrastu na ca dharmaṃ prapaśyati

"This dull-witted King Dhritarashtra of the Kurus sees everything crookedly, and he does not see dharma."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.7 (which reads tamasāvṛtaḥ … sudurbuddhir).

Verse 8 (1.157.8)

न हि पापमपापात्मा रोचयिष्यति पाण्डवः । भीमो वा बलिनां श्रेष्ठः कौन्तेयो वा धनञ्जयः ॥

na hi pāpamapāpātmā rocayiṣyati pāṇḍavaḥ | bhīmo vā balināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kaunteyo vā dhanañjayaḥ

"The sinless son of Pandu will never take pleasure in wrongdoing, nor will Bhima, best of the strong, nor Dhananjaya, son of Kunti."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.8ab–cd.

Verse 9 (1.157.9)

कुत एव महात्मानौ माद्रीपुत्रौ करिष्यतः । तान्राज्यं पितृतः प्राप्तान्धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यति ॥

kuta eva mahātmānau mādrīputrau kariṣyataḥ | tānrājyaṃ pitṛtaḥ prāptāndhṛtarāṣṭro na mṛṣyati

"How then would the two great-souled sons of Madri do so? Dhritarashtra cannot bear that they have received the kingdom from their father."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand: the first line is CE 1.133.8ef, the second CE 1.133.9ab (which reads tad rājyaṃ pitṛtaḥ prāptaṃ).

Verse 10 (1.157.10)

अधर्म्यमिदमत्यन्तं कथं भीष्मोऽनुमन्यते । विवास्यमानानस्थाने नगरे योऽभिमन्यते ॥

adharmyamidamatyantaṃ kathaṃ bhīṣmo'numanyate | vivāsyamānānasthāne nagare yo'bhimanyate

"This is utterly unrighteous. How can Bhishma consent to it — he who agrees to their being banished, without cause, to that town?"

Note on the text: Corresponds loosely to CE 1.133.9cd–ef (adharmam akhilaṃ kiṃ nu bhīṣmo 'yam anumanyate / vivāsyamānān asthāne kaunteyān bharatarṣabhān); left unaligned because the wording differs throughout.

Verse 11 (1.157.11)

पितेव हि नृपोऽस्माकमभूच्छान्तनवः पुरा । विचित्रवीर्यो राजर्षिः पाण्डुश्च कुरुनन्दनः ॥

piteva hi nṛpo'smākamabhūcchāntanavaḥ purā | vicitravīryo rājarṣiḥ pāṇḍuśca kurunandanaḥ

"In the past the royal sage Vichitravirya, son of Shantanu, was a father to us, and so was Pandu, joy of the Kurus."

Verse 12 (1.157.12)

स तस्मिन्पुरुषव्याघ्रे देवभावं गते सति । राजपुत्रानिमान्बालान्धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यति ॥

sa tasminpuruṣavyāghre devabhāvaṃ gate sati | rājaputrānimānbālāndhṛtarāṣṭro na mṛṣyati

"Now that that tiger among men has gone to the world of the gods, Dhritarashtra cannot bear these young princes."

Verse 13 (1.157.13)

वयमेतदनिच्छन्तः सर्व एव पुरोत्तमात् । गृहान्विहाय गच्छामो यत्र गन्ता युधिष्ठिरः ॥

vayametadanicchantaḥ sarva eva purottamāt | gṛhānvihāya gacchāmo yatra gantā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

"Since we do not want this, all of us will leave our homes in this finest of cities and go wherever Yudhishthira goes."

Verse 14 (1.157.14)

तांस्तथा वादिनः पौरान्दुःखितान्दुःखकर्शितः । उवाच मनसा ध्यात्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

tāṃstathā vādinaḥ paurānduḥkhitānduḥkhakarśitaḥ | uvāca manasā dhyātvā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

To the sorrowing townsfolk who spoke in this way, Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, himself worn down with sorrow, reflected in his mind and said:

Note on the text: Corrected दुःकितान् → दुःखितान् (misprint in Wikisource; क for ख; the critical edition reads duḥkhitān).

Verse 15 (1.157.15)

पिता मान्यो गुरुः श्रेष्ठो यदाह पृथिवीपतिः । अशङ्कमानैस्तत्कार्यमस्माभिरिति नो व्रतम् ॥

pitā mānyo guruḥ śreṣṭho yadāha pṛthivīpatiḥ | aśaṅkamānaistatkāryamasmābhiriti no vratam

"The king, lord of the earth, is our father — worthy of honour, our elder and our superior. Whatever he says, we must do without misgiving; that is our vow."

Verse 16 (1.157.16)

भवन्तः सुहृदोऽस्माकं यात कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् । प्रतिनन्द्य तथाऽऽशीर्भिर्निवर्तध्वं यथागृहम् ॥

bhavantaḥ suhṛdo'smākaṃ yāta kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam | pratinandya tathā''śīrbhirnivartadhvaṃ yathāgṛham

"You are our friends. Walk round us reverently, cheer us with your blessings, and then go back, each to his own home."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.15 (which reads asmān kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam / āśīrbhir abhinandyāsmān).

Verse 17 (1.157.17)

यदा तु कार्यमस्माकं भवद्भिरुपपत्स्यते । तदा करिष्यथास्माकं प्रियाणि च हितानि च ॥

yadā tu kāryamasmākaṃ bhavadbhirupapatsyate | tadā kariṣyathāsmākaṃ priyāṇi ca hitāni ca

"When some task of ours calls for your help, then you will do what is dear to us and good for us."

Verse 18 (1.157.18)

एवमुक्तास्तदा पौराः कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम् । आशीर्भिश्चाभिनन्द्यैताञ्जग्मुर्नगरमेव हि ॥

evamuktāstadā paurāḥ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam | āśīrbhiścābhinandyaitāñjagmurnagarameva hi

So addressed, the townspeople walked round them reverently, cheered them with blessings, and went back to the city.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.17 (which reads te tatheti pratijñāya kṛtvā caitān pradakṣiṇam).

Verse 19 (1.157.19)

पौरेषु विनिवृत्तेषु विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित् । बोधयन्पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

paureṣu vinivṛtteṣu viduraḥ sarvadharmavit | bodhayanpāṇḍavaśreṣṭhamidaṃ vacanamabravīt

When the townsfolk had turned back, Vidura, who knew every part of dharma, spoke these words to alert the eldest of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.18ab–cd. Restored the word break in श्रेष्ठमिदंवचनमब्रवीत् → श्रेष्ठमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् (spacing slip in Wikisource).

Verse 20 (1.157.20)

प्राज्ञः प्राज्ञं प्रलापज्ञः प्रलापज्ञमिदं वचः । यो जानाति परप्रज्ञां नीतिशास्त्रानुसारिणीम् । विज्ञायेह तथा कुर्यादापदं निस्तरेद्यथा ॥

prājñaḥ prājñaṃ pralāpajñaḥ pralāpajñamidaṃ vacaḥ | yo jānāti paraprajñāṃ nītiśāstrānusāriṇīm | vijñāyeha tathā kuryādāpadaṃ nistaredyathā

The wise man spoke to the wise, one versed in riddling speech to another versed in it: "He who understands these words, and the enemy's design framed by the rules of statecraft, should act on that knowledge so as to come safely through danger.

Note on the text: Partly in the critical edition: the first line answers to CE 1.133.18ef (cf. apparatus *1457), the second is apparatus 1.133.18f*1458, and the third is CE 1.133.19ab (vijñāyedaṃ tathā kuryād āpadaṃ nistared yathā).

Verse 21 (1.157.21)

अलोहं निशितं शस्त्रं शरीरपरिकर्तनम् । यो वेत्ति न तु तं घ्नन्ति प्रतिघातविदं द्विषः ॥

alohaṃ niśitaṃ śastraṃ śarīraparikartanam | yo vetti na tu taṃ ghnanti pratighātavidaṃ dviṣaḥ

There is a sharp weapon, not made of iron, that cuts the body to pieces. Enemies cannot kill the man who knows it and knows how to ward it off.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.19cd–ef (which reads tam āghnanti). Corrected शरीपरिकर्तनम् → शरीरपरिकर्तनम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; the critical edition reads śarīraparikartanam).

Verse 22 (1.157.22)

कक्षघ्नः शिशिरघ्नश्च महाकक्षे बिलौकसः । न दहेदिति चात्मानं यो रक्षति स जीवति ॥

kakṣaghnaḥ śiśiraghnaśca mahākakṣe bilaukasaḥ | na dahediti cātmānaṃ yo rakṣati sa jīvati

That which consumes the brushwood and destroys the cold does not burn the creatures that live in holes in a great forest. He who protects himself in this way lives.

Verse 23 (1.157.23)

नाचक्षुर्वेत्ति पन्थानं नाचक्षुर्विन्दते दिशः । नाधृतिर्भूतिमाप्नोति बुध्यस्वैवं प्रबोधितः ॥

nācakṣurvetti panthānaṃ nācakṣurvindate diśaḥ | nādhṛtirbhūtimāpnoti budhyasvaivaṃ prabodhitaḥ

The eyeless man does not know the road; the eyeless man cannot find his bearings. Without steadfastness no one prospers. Understand this, now that you have been warned.

Verse 24 (1.157.24)

अनाप्तैर्दत्तमादत्ते नरः शस्त्रमलोहजम् । श्वाविच्छरणमासाद्य प्रमुच्येत हुताशनात् ॥

anāptairdattamādatte naraḥ śastramalohajam | śvāviccharaṇamāsādya pramucyeta hutāśanāt

The man who takes into his own hands the weapon not made of iron that untrustworthy men hold out to him escapes the fire by taking refuge, like the porcupine, in a burrow.

Verse 25 (1.157.25)

चरन्मार्गान्विजानाति नक्षत्रैर्विन्दते दिशः । आत्मना चात्मनः पञ्च पीडयन्नानुपीड्यते ॥

caranmārgānvijānāti nakṣatrairvindate diśaḥ | ātmanā cātmanaḥ pañca pīḍayannānupīḍyate

By roaming about one learns the paths; by the stars one finds the directions. He who keeps his own five in check by himself is not overwhelmed."

Verse 26 (1.157.26)

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । विदुरं विदुषां श्रेष्ठं ज्ञातमित्येव पाण्डवः ॥

evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | viduraṃ viduṣāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ jñātamityeva pāṇḍavaḥ

Addressed in this way, Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, the son of Pandu, answered Vidura, best of the learned: "I have understood."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.133.23d*1459).

Verse 27 (1.157.27)

अनुशिक्ष्यानुगम्यैतान्कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम् । पाण्डवानभ्यनुज्ञाय विदुरः प्रययौ गृहान् ॥

anuśikṣyānugamyaitānkṛtvā caiva pradakṣiṇam | pāṇḍavānabhyanujñāya viduraḥ prayayau gṛhān

Having instructed them and gone some way with them, and having walked round them reverently, Vidura took leave of the Pandavas and went home.

Verse 28 (1.157.28)

निवृत्ते विदुरे चापि भीष्मे पौरजने तथा । अजातशत्रुमासाद्य कुन्ती वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

nivṛtte vidure cāpi bhīṣme paurajane tathā | ajātaśatrumāsādya kuntī vacanamabravīt

When Vidura, Bhishma and the townsfolk had turned back, Kunti approached Ajatashatru and said:

Verse 29 (1.157.29)

क्षत्ता यदब्रवीद्वाक्यं जनमध्येऽब्रुवन्निव । त्वया च स तथेत्युक्तो जानीमो न च तद्वयम् ॥

kṣattā yadabravīdvākyaṃ janamadhye'bruvanniva | tvayā ca sa tathetyukto jānīmo na ca tadvayam

"The words the steward spoke in the midst of the people, as though he were not speaking at all, and to which you answered 'So be it' — we did not understand them."

Verse 30 (1.157.30)

यदीदं शक्यमस्माभिर्ज्ञातुं नैव च दोषवत् । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं संवादं तव तस्य च ॥

yadīdaṃ śakyamasmābhirjñātuṃ naiva ca doṣavat | śrotumicchāmi tatsarvaṃ saṃvādaṃ tava tasya ca

"If it is something we may know, and there is no harm in it, I wish to hear the whole of what passed between you and him."

Verse 31 (1.157.31)

विषादग्नेश्च बोद्धव्यमिति मां विदुरोऽब्रवीत् । पन्थानो वेदितव्याश्च नक्षत्रैश्च तथा दिशः । कुड्याश्च विदिताः कार्याः स्याच्छुद्धिरिति चाब्रवीत् ॥

viṣādagneśca boddhavyamiti māṃ viduro'bravīt | panthāno veditavyāśca nakṣatraiśca tathā diśaḥ | kuḍyāśca viditāḥ kāryāḥ syācchuddhiriti cābravīt

"Vidura told me that we must be on guard against poison and fire, that we must learn the paths and find our directions by the stars. He also said that the walls must be examined, so that we may come through safely."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.133.28 (first line matches; the second reads panthāś ca vo nāviditaḥ kaś cit syād iti cābravīt). The third line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Removed a stray backtick and restored the word breaks in कुड्याश्चविदिताःकार्याःस्याच्छुद्धिरितिचाब्रवीत् (run together in Wikisource).

Verse 32 (1.157.32)

जितेन्द्रियश्च वसुधां प्राप्स्यतीति च मेऽब्रवीत् । विज्ञातमिति तत्सर्वं प्रत्युक्तो विदुरो मया ॥

jitendriyaśca vasudhāṃ prāpsyatīti ca me'bravīt | vijñātamiti tatsarvaṃ pratyukto viduro mayā

"He also told me that one who masters his senses will win the earth. I answered Vidura, 'I have understood it all.'"

Verse 33 (1.157.33)

अष्टमेऽहनि रोहिण्यां प्रयाताः फाल्गुनस्य ते । वारणावतमासाद्य ददृशुर्नागरं जनम् ॥

aṣṭame'hani rohiṇyāṃ prayātāḥ phālgunasya te | vāraṇāvatamāsādya dadṛśurnāgaraṃ janam

They set out on the eighth day of Phalguna, under the star Rohini, and on reaching Varanavata they saw the people of the town.