विदुरvidura

विदुर (vidura) is a Sanskrit word meaning knowing, wise, intelligent, a learned or clever man, an intriguer, knowing, wise, or intelligent, a learned man or intriguer, the younger brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Its 19 recorded definitions are grouped into 5 contexts, among them Wise, Intelligent (Adjective), Vidura (Mahabharata/Puranic Character), A Wise or Learned Man.

Etymology: E. विद् to know, कुरच् aff
Definitions: 19

View Declension Tables , 48 forms

Meanings by context

Wise, Intelligent (Adjective)

9 definitions

knowing, wise, intelligent

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

1. Intelligent or wise. 2. The name of the son of Vyasa and younger brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu.

— Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Wise or intelligent. 2. A libertine or intriguer. 3. A learned man. 4. The younger brother and counsellor of Dhritarashtra.

— Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Wise. 2. A libertine. 3. A pandit. 4. The younger brother of Dhritarashtra.

— Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Wise, intelligent

— Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Wise, knowing, or intelligent. 2. A libertine or intriguer. 3. A learned or clever man. 4. The younger brother and counsellor of Dhritarashtra.

— Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Wise or knowing. 2. A learned man. 3. An intriguer. 4. A proper name.

— Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Wise or intelligent. 2. The name of an ancient hero.

— Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Knowing, wise, or intelligent. 2. A learned man or intriguer. 3. The younger brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)

Vidura (Mahabharata/Puranic Character)

4 definitions

The younger brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu, known as one of the wisest characters in the Mahabharata.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Name of the younger brother of Pandu, known for his wisdom, righteousness, and impartiality.

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

son of Vyasa and a shudra woman, and incarnation of a portion of Dharma

विदुर (vidura) [Printed book page 733-1]
Vidura (also named Kṣattṛ, son of Vyāsa and a śūdra

woman, the maid of Ambikā, and incarnation of a portion of

Dharma). § 4 (Anukramaṇik.): I, 1, 95, 138, †151.—§ 11

(Parvasaṅgr.): I, 2, 378, 379, 393, 503, 584, 611, 615.—

§ 70 (Ādivaṃśāvatāraṇap.): I, 60, 2213 (begotten by

Vyāsa).—§ 71 (do.): I, 61, 2244, 2245, 2252 (all. to § 213).

—§ 80 (Aṇīmāṇḍavya): I, 63, 2426 (Dharma born as V.).—

§ 83 (Ādivaṃśāvatāraṇa): I, 63, 2442 (Śūdrayonau tu jajñe

Dvaipāyanāt, all. to § 171).—§ 130 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67,

2721d (incarnation of the son of Atri, i.e. Dharma).—§ 157

(Pūruvaṃś.): I, 95, ††3808 (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and V.

Page733-b+ 63

begotten by Vyāsa, cf. § 171), ††3819.—§ 158 (do.): I, 95,

††3823 (all. to § 213).—§ 171 (Vicitravīryasutotpatti): I,

106, 4301 (Dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhrātā Pāṇḍoś caiva, begotten by

Vyāsa on the maid of Ambikā), 4302 (incarnation of Dharma).

—§ 172 (Anīmāṇḍavyop.): I, 108, 4335 (Dharma born as

V°.).—§ 173 (Pāṇḍurājyābhiṣeka): I, 109, 4353, 4358,

4361 (of the pārasava caste), 4362.—§ 174 (Dhṛtarāṣṭra-

vivāha): I, 110, 4369, (4370).—§ 178 (Pāṇḍu): I, 114,

4470.—§ 179 (Vidurapariṇaya): I, 114, 4481, 4482 (married

a pārasavī, the daughter of king Devaka).—§ 180 (Gāndhārī-

putrotpatti): I, 115, 4510, 4513, 4518 (when Duryodhana

was born, V., in vain, told Dhṛtarāṣṭra to abandon him).—

§ 184 (Pāṇḍu): I, 119, 4614 (Kṣattā).—§ 194 (do.): I,

126, 4911 (do.).—§ 195 (do.): I, 127, 4932, 4936, 4947,

4959, 4960 (performed the funeral ceremonies of Pāṇḍu and

Mādrī).—§ 197 (Bhīmasenarasapāna): I, 129, (5049), 5051,

5067/8 (only B.), 5070 (°sya mate).—§ 208 (Astradarśana):

I, 134, 5313, 5319, 5346; 135, 5360 (5362); 136, 5406.—

§ 213 (Jatugṛhap.): I, 141, 5637, (5640), 5643, 5646, 5656

(°sya mate); 143, 5707; 145, 5735, 5738, 5752, 5760,

5761, 5762, 5765, 5766; 147, 5798 (°sya suhṛt kaścit), 5799,

5800, 5803, 5804 (suhṛdaṃ V°sya), 5811, 5818 (°āmatyāt);

149, 5841 (kaviḥ), 5843, 5844, 5848 (Kṣattā), 5852, 5853;

150, 5860, 5873 (V. warned Yudhiṣṭhira against the plot

of Duryodhana, and sent a friend of his, a miner (khanaka),

who saved the Pāṇḍavas from the lac-house).—§ 241

(Vidurāgamanap.): I, 200, 7380, 7382, 7385, 7390, 7392;

201, 7396, 7397; 202, 7439.—§ 243 (do.): I, 205,

(7488); 206, 7524, 7527, (7533) (was sent to take the

Pāṇḍavas back from Kāmpilya).—§ 244 (Rājyalābhap.): I,

207, 7545, 7554.—§ 286 (Rājasūyikap.): II, 33, 1259.—

§ 287 (do.): II, 34, 1264 (came to the rājasūya of Yudhi-

ṣṭhira).—§ 288 (do.): II, 35, 1294 (Kṣattā, acted as

disburser (vyayakara)).—§ 294 (Dyūtap.): II, 49, 1771,

1775, 1776, 1777, (1779), 1784, 1785 (ordered by Dhṛtarāṣṭra

to invite Yudhiṣṭhira to the gambling, though he did not ap-

prove of it); 50, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793—4 (b: V. knew the

whole śāstra which Bṛhaspati had revealed to Indra. V. was

esteemed as the foremost of the Kurus as Uddhava among the

Vṛṣṇis).—§ 298 (do.): II, 56, 1970, 1971, †1980, †1985

(ordered by Dhṛtarāṣṭra to invite Yudhiṣṭhira, etc., to the

gambling); 57, 1988, (†1989), 1991 (did not approve of the

gambling); 58, †1992, †1995, (†1997), (†2002), †2003,

(†2004), †2006, †2008; 60, 2052; 62, 2094, (2095)

(quoting sentences of Kāvya, V. advised Dhṛtarāṣṭra to

abandon Duryodhana); 63, (2111); 64, †2121, †2126,

†2127, †2131, (†2132); 65, 2182.—§ 299 (do.): II, 66,

(†2187) (warned Duryodhana); 68, 2263, 2307, (2308)

(told the story of the quarrel between Virocana and

Sudhanvan).—§ 301 (do.): II, 68, (2337), 2338; 70,

2378; 71, (†2395), †2402, †2403; 73, 2447 (mantrī).—

§ 302 (Anudyūtap.): II, 74, 2476.—§ 305 (do.): II, 78,

2561, (2564), (2568) (V. kept Kuntī in his house and consoled

Yudhiṣṭhira); 79, 2614, 2619.—§ 306 (do.): II, 80,

2620, (2623), 2628, (2629), 2651 (conversation with

Dhṛtarāṣṭra).—§ 307 (do.): II, 81, 2677, 2697, 2699.—

§ 308 (Āraṇyakap.): III, 1, 12, 35.—§ 311 (do.): III, 4,

†219, (†222), †235, †238, †239 (dismissed by Dhṛtarāṣṭra

V. went to the Pāṇḍavas).—§ 312 (do.): III, 5, 244, †245,

†246, †249, †250, (†251).—§ 313 (do.): III, 6, 262, 263,

264, 268, 269, 274, 279, 282, (283), 286 (called back by

Dhṛtarāṣṭra); 7, 287, 289 (mantrī Dhṛtarāṣṭrasya), 290;

8, 316, 322.—§ 314 (do.): III, 9, 324, 342.—§ 315

Page734-a+ 63

(Maitreyaśāpa): III, 10, 347, 383.—§ 316 (Kirmīra-

vadhap.): III, 11, (386), (412), (454) (related the slaughter

of Kirmīra).—§ 327 (Draupadīparitāpav.): III, 29, 1111

(Kṣattā).—§ 342 (Indralokābhigamanap.): III, 51, †2011.

—§ 512 (Ghoṣayātrāp.): III, 249, 15084.—§ 516 (Duryo-

dhanayajña): III, 256, 15298, 15302, 15318, 15320; 257,

15332.—§ 548 (Āraṇeyap.): III, 314, 17440 (mamāṃśajaḥ,

sc. Dharma's).—§ 549 (Pāṇḍavapr.): IV, 4, 134.—§ 552

(Goharaṇap.): IV, 50, 1567 (kiṃ V°o 'bravīt).—§ 554

(Sainyodyogap.): V, 2β, †31; 3, 52 (only B.); 6, 114, 117.

—§ 556 (Sañjayayānap.): V, 20, 603; 26, †749 (vācaḥ

…V°sya), †750, †753, †756; 30, †872, †897; 31, 926

(Kurūṇāṃ mantradhāriṇaṃ).—§ 557 (Prajāgarap.): V, 33,

971, 973, 974, 975, 977, 978, 979, (983), (986); 34, 1095,

(1097) (instructed Dhṛtarāṣṭra).—§ 558 (do.): V, 35,

(1182), (1192), (1203), (1221) (do., told the story of the

quarrel between Virocana and Sudhanvan).—§ 559 (do.): V,

36, (1260), †1281, (†1282), (1310); 37, (1334), (1343);

38, (1398); 39, (1447), (1455); 40, (1532) (gave further

instructions to Dhṛtarāṣṭra).—§ 560 (Sanatsujātap.): V,

41, 1565, (1566), 1568, (1569), 1571, 1572, 1573, (caused

Sanatsujāta to instruct Dhṛtarāṣṭra); 42, †1577.—§ 561

(Yānasandhip.): V, 47, 1791, (α), 1797; 48, †1916; 50,

1977; 51, 2070 (vikruṣṭaṃ V°eṇādau…bhayaṃ); 54,

2141 (dyūtakāle…proktaṃ V°eṇa); 55, 2151; 63, (2438);

64, (2455), (2462) (gave advice to Dhṛtarāṣṭra); 67,

2520.—§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 73, 2685; 80ζ, 2859,

2861; 83ι, 2967 (Kurūṇāṃ mantradhāriṇaṃ), 2989; 85κ,

3023; 87, (3061); 88, 3078; 89, 3122, 3125 (Kṛṣṇa

stopped in the house of V.); 90, 3128; 91, 3270, 3271,

3277; 92, 3278; 93, 3310, 3319 (conversation between V.

and Kṛṣṇa); 94, 3331, 3345, 3362, 3380.—§ 567 (do.):

V, 124α, 4125, (β), 4137; 125, 4192, 4204 (Kṣattā);

128, 4277, (θ), 4284; 129, 4309, 4314; 130, 4376, 4380,

4386, 4393, 4403 (Kṣattā), (4405) (praised Kṛṣṇa); 131,

4418, 4431.—§ 569 (do.): V, 139, 4713; 147, 5000

(mataṃ…V°sya); 148, 5007, 5009, 5010, 5012, 5018,

(5020), 5029, †5034, †5038; 150, 5077, 5082, 5091, 5092.

—§ 570 (Sainyaniryāṇap.): V, 154, 5219 (°sya…vākyaṃ),

5223, 5226, 5239.—§ 571 (Ulūkadūtāgamanap.): V, 160,

5454 (santyāgo V°sya).—§ 578 (Bhīṣmavadhap.): VI, 49,

1994 (vāryamāṇaḥ…V°eṇa, sc. Duryodhana).—§ 581

(do.): VI, 65, 2900 (°vākyāni), 2922 (°eṇa…vāryamāṇaḥ,

sc. Duryodhana).—§ 583 (do.): VI, 76, 3334 (ukto hi

V°eṇaiṣa, sc. Duryodhana).—§ 585 (do.): VI, 88κ, 3926

(uktaṃ…V°eṇa); 89μ, 3936 (vāryamāṇaḥ…V°eṇa,

sc. Duryodhana), 3942; 96, 4324 (dṛṣṭavān purā…

bhayaṃ).—§ 588 (do.): VI, 121, †5797 (vākyaṃ…ucya-

mānaṃ V°eṇa).—§ 598 (Jayadrathavadhap.): VII, 85, 3035

(disapproved of the gambling), 3055 (°vākyānāṃ)—§ 599

(do.): VII, 114, 4487 (ucyase…V°ādibhiḥ, sc. Dhṛta-

rāṣṭra); 151γʹ, 6539 (ākhyāyamānaḥ…V°eṇa, sc.

Duryodhana), 6540 (°sya vacaḥ).—§ 604 (Karṇap.): VIII,

2γ, 30; 4, 80 (comforted Dhṛtarāṣṭra).—§ 608 (do.):

VIII, 69, 3433 (Kṣattā); 96, 5037 (comforted Dhṛta-

rāṣṭra).—§ 609 (Śalyap.): IX, 1, 23, (ε), 41, 51; 2, 115

(uktaḥ…V°eṇa, sc. Dhṛtarāṣṭra, all. to § 180), 117.—§ 611

(do.): IX, 24νν, 1306, 1310 (uktaḥ…V°eṇa, sc. Arjuna),

1312, 1313 (uktaṃ vacanaṃ…V°eṇa), 1319 (°sya ca

vākyena).—§ 612 (Hradapraveśap.): IX, 29, 1595 (dṛṣṭavān

purā…vaiśasaṃ), 1655, 1663, 1668, 1670 (met with

Yuyutsu).—§ 615 (Gadāyuddhap.): IX, 61, 3407; 63ββ,

3548.—§ 616 (Sauptikap.): X, 1α, 14 (vacaḥ…V°sya);

Page734-b+ 61

2, 102.—§ 618 (Jalapradānikap.): XI, 1γ, 29, 45; 2, 46

(comforted Dhṛtarāṣṭra), (47); 3, (86); 4, (105); 5, (126);

6, (152); 7, (164); 8, 193, (ε), 194 (Kṣattā), (ζ), 210;

9, 254 (V. again comforted Dhṛtarāṣṭra); 10, 269, 271;

13μ, 346; 15, 423 (°sya vacaḥ).—§ 619 (Strīvilāpap.):

XI, 17β, 506; 25κ, 740.—§ 620 (Śrāddhap.): XI, 26α,

780.—§ 621 (Rājadh.): XII, 1α, 1; 7η, 183.—§ 635 (do.):

XII, 37δ, 1384.—§ 637 (do.): XII, 40α, 1447; 41β,

1476, 1483; 42γ, 1494; 44δ, 1529; 45ε, 1539, 1542.—

§ 657 (Āpaddh.): XII, 167, 6210, 6213, (6214).—§ 777

(Svargārohaṇik. p.): XIII, 168, 7715; 169, 7769, 7770.—

§ 778 (Aśvamedhikap.): XIV, 1, 10, 11 (uktavān V°o yad

māṃ—i.e. Dhṛtarāṣṭra—all. to § 180), 17; 2, 24.—§ 783

(Anugītāp.): XIV, 52γ, 1503, †1531 (°ādibhiḥ), †1533,

†1534.—§ 784b (Uttaṅka): XIV, 53, 1552.—§ 785

(Anugītāp.): XIV, 60, 1806; 66, 1941, (κ), 1942; 70,

2049; 71π, 2061.—§ 787 (Āśramavāsap.): XV, 1, 5, 12,

15, 16; 2, 57; 3γ, 79 (uktaḥ…V°eṇa, sc. Dhṛtarāṣṭra),

136 (°ādayaḥ); 4η, 167; 5η, 172, 175 (°ādayaḥ); 7, 255

(uktaḥ…V°eṇa, sc. Yudhiṣṭhira); 8ι, 259; 11, 356,

361, 363, 380 (all. to Dyūtaparvan); 12, 384, 388; 13, 395,

407, 409; 14, 410; 15τ, †435; 16, 444 (went to the forest

together with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, etc.); 18, 498, (ψ), 513, 515;

19, 520, (ω), 524 (°ādayaḥ); 20, 557 (being a portion of

Dharma, V. will, after death, enter Yudhiṣṭhira).—§ 788

(do.): XV, 21α, 581, 584; 26, 689, 691, 696, 697, 699,

700, 701, 702, 703, 707 (°sañjñakaṃ kalevaraṃ, entered

Yudhisṭhira); 28, 751 (Dharmasya?), 752 (Māṇḍavyaśāpāt

…Dharmo V°tāṃ gataḥ, cf. §§ 80 and 172), 761 (Dharmaḥ).

—§ 789 (Putradarśanap.): XV, 29, 767 (saṃsiddhe); [31ζ,

851 (Dharmasyāṃśo 'bhavat Kṣattā)].—§ 790 (do.): XV,

35, 941 (yayau siddhiṃ).—[§ 795 (Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII.

5μ, 169 (Kṣattā, entered Dharma)].

Cf. also the following synonyms:—

Ājamīdha, q.v.

Bhārata, Bharatarṣabha, q.v.

Kaurava, q.v.

Kṣattṛ; I, 99, 393, 420, 2249, 4614, (V°), 4911 (V°),

5045, 5046, 5318, 5361, 5650, 5688, 5693, 5763, 5812, 5848

(V°), 7381, 7389, 7393, 7521; II, 1294 (V°), 1768, 1770,

1780, †1990, †1996, †2001, 2010, †2121 (V°), †2123, †2124,

†2127 (V°), †2131 (V°), †2186, †2199, †2237, †2379

(wanting in B.), 2480 (all. to § 180), 2618, 2622, 2671,

2709; III, †246, 277, 385, 1111 (V°), †2012, 14801 (all. to

Dyūtaparvan), 15319; V, †754 (all. to Dyūtap.), †847 (do.),

†848 (do.), 972, 976, 3040, 3127, 3181, 3182, 3268, 3274,

3275, 3311, 3315, 4204 (V°), 4236, 4325, 4329, 4395, 4403

(V°), 4453, 4457, 4885, 4964, 5005 (younger brother of

Pāṇḍu), †5035; VI, 3919 (yad uktavān K°ā), 3939 (°ur

vacanaṃ); VII, 1057 (yad māṃ—i.e. Dhṛtarāṣṭra—K°ābravīt),

5597 (°uḥ…vacaḥ), 5654 (do.), 5661 (vilapan), 6309

(°ā rājānam abravīt, all. to § 180), 6548 (°ur vākyaṃ); VIII,

3433 (V°), 3728/29 (only B.); IX, 45, 46, 53, 56, 1013

(°ur vacaḥ), 1534 (°ur vākyaṃ), 1595 (vacanaṃ K°uḥ, V°);

XI, 194 (V°), 274, 782; XII, 4239; XIV, 1508 (printed

Kṣattvāraṃ in C.); XV, 851 (Dharmasyāṃśaḥ); XVIII, 169.

Kurunandana, q.v.

[ID=11999]

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

A prominent figure in the Mahabharata, known as the son of Vyasa, younger brother of Dhritarashtra, and an incarnation of Yama, famous for his wisdom, righteousness, and guidance to the Pandavas.

विदुर (vidura) [Printed book page 3-227]
Vidura — a Kṣetraja son of Vicitravīrya (through the

female servants of the queens of Vicitravīrya-Vi. P.); a son

of Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana (Vyāsa) and a brother of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

Yudhiṣṭhira narrated the services done by Vidura to

the Pāṇḍavas from the beginning and asked about

the welfare of Kṛṣṇa and others when Vidura spent some-

time at Hāstinapura. Persuaded Dhṛtarāṣṭra to leave the

capital secretly to the Himālayas for penance, Gāndhārī

following him.¹ Insulted by Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni

and ordered to be banished. Left Hāstinapura and wander-

ed through the holy places and reaching Prabhāsā, heard of

the establishment of rule by Yudhiṣṭhira. Hearing of the

death of his kinsmen he went back to the Sarasvatī and

performed ablutions at eleven different places sacred to Trita,

Uśanas, etc. Passing through the flourishing Surāṣṭra,

Sauvīra and other countries, he reached the Yamunā and met

Uddhava. Asked him about the welfare of his kinsmen in-

cluding Ugrasena and sons of Kṛṣṇa. Entertained by him

and having heard of the last days of Kṛṣṇa and the Yādavas

and of the fact that Maitreya had been ordered by Kṛṣṇa to

be his preceptor, Vidura left Yamunā for the Ganges where

he met Maitreya.² Being addressed, Maitreya said that

Vidura was god Yama incarnate, and gave him a brief

description of the creations and of the knowledge of one god,

and that Hari was the goal. Listened to the story of Uttāna-

pāda and his line, and the discourse on Ātman.³ Left for

Hāstinapura; having abandoned his relatives came back to
Page3-228+ 32

them. Welcomed by Yudhiṣṭhira and others. Invited for

Yudhiṣṭhira's Rājasūya in which he took an active part, and

approved of the anointment of Yudhiṣṭhira. Went to Syaman-

tapañcaka for the solar eclipse, and left it after it was over.⁴

Seen by Akrūra, met by Kṛtavarman, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.⁵

After the death of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and his wife, Vidura went on

a pilgrimage and cast off his body at Prabhāsā. Had realised

the Yoga power of Hari.⁶
[Footnote: 1) M. 50. 47; Bhā. IX. 22. 25; I. 13. 8-29. Vā. 99. 242;]

[Footnote: 2) Bhā. III. 1.

(whole) chh. 2 and 3; 4. 33-6; 5. 1.]

[Footnote: 3) Ib. III. chh. 5 and 7 (whole); I.

13. 1-7; II. 10. 48-50; IV. 31. 30.]

[Footnote: 4) Ib. 13. 1-7; X. 74. 10; 75. 6; 80. [5];

82. 24; 84. 69[1]; XII. 12. 8.]

[Footnote: 5) Ib. X. 49. 1 and 6; 52. [56 (v) 4 and

12]; 57. 2.]

[Footnote: 6) Ib. I. 13. 57-58; 15. 49; II. 7. 45.]
[ID=12827]

— The Purana Index

A Wise or Learned Man

3 definitions

a learned or clever man

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

A wise or learned man

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A learned man. 2. An intriguer. 3. The younger brother of Pandu and Dhritarashtra.

— Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary

An Intriguer or Crafty Man

2 definitions

an intriguer

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

A crafty person or intriguer.

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Lexicographical Note (Cross-reference)

1 definition

See vidura, vidula

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)

Read विदुर in the app

All the contexts on this page, offline — and the word becomes yours to keep, annotate and come back to.

Favorite विदुर to save it
Add your own notes
Search by Context
Declension tables offline
Syncs through iCloud

Definitions on this page come from 12 works: Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872), Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary, The Purana Index, Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon.