सुदुर्बलं नावजानाति कञ्चिद् युक्तो रिपुं सेवते बुद्धिपूर्वम्। न विग्रहं रोचयते बलस्थैः काले च यो विक्रमते स धीरः॥
sudurbalaṃ nāvajānāti kañcid yukto ripuṃ sevate buddhipūrvam । na vigrahaṃ rocayate balasthaiḥ kāle ca yo vikramate sa dhīraḥ ॥
Meaning of Sudurbalaṃ Nāvajānāti Kañcid Yukto
He who does not insult the weak, remains cautious and deals with his enemies with wisdom and discretion, does not forcefully fight the powerful, and shows bravery at the right time — he is truly brave.
Word by word
- सुदुर्बलम्sudurbalam
the very weak
सु + दुस् + बल
- न अवजानातिnāvajānāti
does not slight
अव + √ज्ञा
- कञ्चित्kañcit
anyone
- युक्तःyuktaḥ
attentive
√युज्
- रिपुम्ripum
an enemy
रिपु
- सेवतेsevate
deals with
√सेव्
- बुद्धिपूर्वम्buddhipūrvam
with forethought
√बुध् + पूर्व
- न विग्रहम्na vigraham
not conflict
वि + √ग्रह्
- रोचयतेrocayate
does he relish
√रुच्
- बलस्थैःbalasthaiḥ
with the strong
बल + √स्था
- काले चkāle ca
and at the right time
काल
- यः विक्रमतेyo vikramate
who shows valour
वि + √क्रम्
- सः धीरःsa dhīraḥ
he is steadfast
√धृ
Commentary
This verse from Vidura Niti defines the character of a 'Dhira' or a truly wise and brave person. It emphasizes that true strength is not just about physical power, but about emotional intelligence and strategic restraint. A wise person never underestimates an opponent, regardless of how weak they may seem, and avoids unnecessary conflict with those who are stronger. Bravery, in this context, is the ability to act decisively at the right moment rather than reacting impulsively. Of the four marks given, three are refusals — he does not slight the very weak, does not relish a quarrel with the strong, does not act without thought — and only the last is an action. The dhīra is therefore defined mostly by restraint, with courage appearing once and under a condition: kāle, at the proper time. Vidura places the one positive clause last so that the whole definition arrives before the bravery does.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Vidura Niti
View source pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
More subhashitams on Wisdom
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। स्वराज्ययोगनिर्मग्ना धन्यास्ते वीरयोगिनः॥
bhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ । svarājyayoganirmagnā dhanyās te vīrayoginaḥ ॥
The verse praises heroic practitioners who renounce personal comforts and devote themselves fully to self-rule.
ज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.