FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.1.10

यदोपहूतो भवनं प्रविष्टो मन्त्राय पृष्ट: किल पूर्वजेन । अथाह तन्मन्त्रद‍ृशां वरीयान् यन्मन्त्रिणो वैदुरिकं वदन्ति ॥ १० ॥
yadopahūto bhavanaṁ praviṣṭo
[yadopahooto bhavanam pravishto]
mantrāya pṛṣṭaḥ kila pūrvajena
[mantraaya prishtah kila poorvajena]
athāha tan mantra-dṛśāṁ varīyān
[athaaha tan mantra-drishaam vareeyaan]
yan mantriṇo vaidurikaṁ vadanti
[yan mantrino vaidurikam vadanti]
Word-for-word
yadā — when upahūtaḥ — was called by bhavanam — the palace praviṣṭaḥ — entered mantrāya — for consultation pṛṣṭaḥ — asked by kila — of course pūrvajena — by the elder brother atha — thus āha — said tat — that mantra — advice dṛśām — just suitable varīyān — excellent yat — that which mantriṇaḥ — the ministers of state, or expert politicians vaidurikam — instructions by Vidura vadanti — do they say.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yadopahūto bhavanaṁ praviṣṭo
yadā
when
upahūtaḥ
was called by
bhavanam
the palace
praviṣṭaḥ
entered
mantrāya pṛṣṭaḥ kila pūrvajena
mantrāya
for consultation
pṛṣṭaḥ
asked by
kila
of course
pūrvajena
by the elder brother
athāha tan mantra-dṛśāṁ varīyān
atha
thus
āha
said
tat
that
mantra
advice
dṛśām
just suitable
varīyān
excellent
yan mantriṇo vaidurikaṁ vadanti
yat
that which
mantriṇaḥ
the ministers of state, or expert politicians
vaidurikam
instructions by Vidura
vadanti
do they say.
When Vidura was invited by his elder brother [Dhṛtarāṣṭra] for consultation, he entered the house and gave instructions which were exactly to the point. His advice is well known, and instructions by Vidura are approved by expert ministers of state.
Purport

Political suggestions by Vidura are known as expert, just as, in modern times, Paṇḍita Cāṇakya is considered the authority in good counsel in both political and moral instructions.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Vidura, the supreme adviser, whose wise counsel the wise even today call “advice of Vidura,” called by Dhṛtarāṣṭra for advice, then entered his house and spoke. Vidura’s humiliation by Duryodhana is described in the following six verses. Because Vidura gave wise advice even today good advice is called “words of Vidura.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Good counsel speaks to the situation, not to flatter or fight. Vidura entered when invited, said what was needed, and left it at that. Wisdom does not lobby; it states the truth and trusts the hearer.
Reflection Questions
  • When you are asked for advice, do you serve the question or your own image as advisor?
  • Are you willing to give the right answer even if the person you love will reject it?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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