भगवद्यान पर्व — विदुर का अपने पुत्र को उपदेश

Kunti said In this connection is cited the old story of the conversation between Vidula and her son, O chastiser of foes.

It is proper that you should tell (Yudhishthira) the words of that story or anything better than that. There was a lady born in a noble family who had great renown and was wrathful.

She was attached to the duties of a Kshatriya princess and her name was Vidula, She possessed great foresight and had senses under control; her name was known to all kings and she was very learned for hearing speeches of eminent men.

The princess Vidula thus censured her own son who, being defeated by the king of the Sindhus, was lying down with a sorrowful heart.

Vidula said I have begotten a son who does not delight me but on the other hand increases the joys of our enemies. By me nor by your father have you been begotten. Where have you come from?

Being the reverse of wrathful you cannot be reckoned among men and your features possess no signs of prowess. Throughout your life you are in despair; for your sake, and your welfare, bear the burden of life manfully.

Do not think lightly of your own soul and do not let it be satisfied with a little; having set your mind on very great desirable objects, be not afraid and abandon your misgivings.

Rise, O coward, do not remain inactive in this way being defeated, thereby increasing the joys of our enemies, affording cause for grief to your friends and regardless of everything.

Bad (small) rivers are filled with a handful water and douses are satisfied with little and a coward is ever well satisfied, for a little satisfies him.

Rather die in the act of rooting out the fangs of a snake than roam about like a dog and exercise your prowess even at the risk of life.

Or be on the look out for the holes of your enemies like a hawk roaming about in the sky or you show your prowess and fight without any doubts in your mind.

Why are you lying down like a dead body being struck with thunder? Rise, O coward, and do not lie down defeated by your enemies.

Do not vanish away into darkness so miserably; let yourself be heard about by your deeds; do not stand in the second rank, nor in the third nor in the last but stand proudly first.

Blaze up even for a moment like a piece of Tindula wood and do not like the fire of husk smoke away fireless out of your desire of life.

A momentary blaze is better than smoking for a long time; let not there be born in a royal house a prince who is too harsh or who is too soft-minded.

Doing the deed of men and achieving every feat that is really great in a field of battle a man satisfied the duties of his order and has no reason to find fault with himself.

A wise man grieves not whether he is successful or not in his object; on the contrary he commences what ought to be done under the altered circumstances without caring for his life.

Show forth your own power or meet with your sure end only playing at your back (making it a secondary consideration) why do you live my son?

The fruits of the sacrificial rites performed by you, O coward, and all your renown are all destroyed; the roots of your enjoyment are all cut up; for what reason do you live on?

When about to fall down (in wrestling) an enemy should be held by the thing and made to fall down also even when cut up to the roots, one should not grieve.

Remembering the exertion made by horses of good breed in moving heavy weight know what in your own manliness lies and bring together all you sense of honour and energy.

Raise up the race that has been sunk in infamy by your own doings. The man, whose great and wonderful feats men do not talk about.

Goes only to increase the common heard; he is neither a woman nor a man; he chose fame is not spoken about in gifts, devolution and truth

And in learning and attainment of wealth is but the excretion of his mother. Whereas learning, devotion, in prosperity or prowess.

The man who suppress another or in deeds is a man indeed. It is not proper that you should adopt a life which is idle and wretched,

Compassionate leading to infamy and miserable which is suitable only for a coward; in such a case enemies rejoice over such a weak man.

Held in contempt and destitute of seats and robes; they express surprise and gratification at small earnings, are means, have no courage and are low.

Friends derive no happiness from gaining such a friend; being exiled from a kingdom we shall die destitute of the means of earning our livelihood,

Deprived of all desires and enjoyments, turned out from our place and having nothing at all. Misbehaving among a race of honest men and the destroyer of the fame of his race and family.

Kali himself in the shape of yourself, my son Sanjaya, has been brought forth, by me who has no wealth in him no energy, no prowess, and is the delighted of his enemies.

Let no woman bring forth such a son; do not smoke away but blaze up and exercising your prowess slay your enemies.

Blaze over the heads of enemies for a moment or even for a small bit of time; those are indeed men who are wrathful and who exercise no forgiveness.

One, destitute of wrath and given to the exercise of forgiveness, is neither a woman nor a man; satisfaction destroys prosperity so does softness of heart.

And so do these two namely want of exertion and fear; one without exertion never attains to greatness; free your soul, by your own exertions of these defects which lead to ruin.

Making your heart one of steel, hunt for the recovery of your lost wealth; one is called a man (Purusha) for he vanquishes the enemy (Param).

He is said to bear the false name of Purusha) who leads in this world the life of a woman. A hero of mighty strength and acting like a powerful lion,

May be subject to the influence of his fate but even in such a case his subjects rejoice; for he who leaving his own happiness hunts for the prosperity (of his kingdom) very contributes to the rejoicing of his ministers. soon

The son said If you do not behold me, what is this entire earth to you; what will your ornaments do for you, and what is the use of enjoyments and what even of life itself.

The mother said The world which is (reserved) for the poor and miserable, may our enemies attain to; and may our well-wishers roam about in the earth which is (reserved) for respected souls.

Do not follow the life of those who are devoid of attendants, who subsist on the food given by others (by way of charity); who are miserable and who are devoid of strength and prowess.

May the Brahmanas and your wellwishers, my son, live depend on you as living creatures depend on the clouds (rain) and as the gods depend on the performer of a hundred sacrifices.

The man, depending on whom all living creatures depend, O Sanjaya as (birds) on a tree with ripe fruits, has his life rendered useful.

The hero, by whose prowess his friends attain to happiness like the gods attaining to happiness through Shakra has his life blessed.

That son of Manu, who lives on the strength of his arms, gets renown in this world and a blissful one here after.