Viduranitih

• Description of various types of people such as wise, fool etc., and also description of aims, sins, qualities etc.

• Vidura's advice regarding the best path to make both Kauravas and Pandavas happy.

• Vidura's advice to Dhrtarastra for doing justice to Pandavas.

• Efforts to persuade Kauravas to make friendship with Pandavas, who have the qualities of those born in high families.

• Pap;lavas and their relationship.

• Duryodhana's fall from kingdom. Vidura's advice for having impartial attitude towards Pandavas.

• Vidura's efforts to bring change in Kauravas. Finally Vidura believes that Destiny is certain.

• Index of Verses.

Safijaya came to see king Dhrtarastra and during his conversation the former insulted the king. Saiijaya also anounced that tomorrow he is going to deliver the message of Yudhisthira in the council. Dhrtarastra got disturbed. He called Vidura and told him the cause of his disturbance. He was desirous to know about the message of Yudhisthira. Vidura tells the king that he has developed enemity with the stronger person as he has exiled Yudhsithira and Paudavas. He starts telling the qualities of a wise man so that the king can judge himself about his wisdom.

Vidurniti is the thirty-third chapter of Udogya Parva of Mahabharata. It is divided into eight chapters. The first chapter opens with the description of a wise man. Vidura lays stress on the importance of four pursuits of human-life. According to him if a man is dragged away from these four pursuits (purusarthas), he is not known to be wise (20-23). Cold, heat, fear, lust etc. do not hamper the works taken up by the wise people (24).

According to Vidura wise men never strive for the unattainables, never grieve for the lost, never lose his senses in calamities (28).

Vidura explains to Dhrtarastra the meaning of the word `fool'. A person committing wicked acts, is known to be a fool. Such a person kills his well wishers and friends (35). One who enters unasked, speaks unsoliciated and believes the untrustworthy is known to be a fool (41)

Rgveda (10.117.6) says that one who eats alone is a sinner - is a well known proverb. Vidura says that it is not only the food but also the clothes, one should share with the servants, sons, wife etc. If one does not share, he is a wicked man (46).

A wise king must keep his ministers happy (50). Vidura suggests that a man, possessed of the quality of forgiveness, succeeds in his plans. According to Vidura Virtue is the only highest good, forgiveness is the supreme peace, knowledge is the deepest satisfaction and benevolence is the only cause of happiness (57).

Vidura tells Dhrtarastra about two type of persons and two type of acts (58-66). Further, Vidura speaks about three means to attain one's aim. He says that there are three types of men-good, bad and middle-one. He also says that three people do not have any right on their wealth (69). He also explained that there are three sins (70), three ways to hell (71) etc. Thereafter he tells about four types of people who should be excluded from counselling the king (74), who should be allowed to dwell in one's house etc. He, further tells him about five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten different types of people, things, sins, qualities etc. (83-106). In the end of first chapter he advises the king to give back to Pandavas their rightful kingdom.

Second Chapter of Vidumiti starts with king's request to Vidura to show him the best path so that he can make both Pancjavas and Kauravas happy.

**Contents and Sample Pages**