Shloka 31
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
धर्मेण राज्यं विन्देत धर्मेण परिपालयेत् । धर्ममूलां श्रियं प्राप्प न जहाति न हीयते
dharmeṇa rājyaṃ vindeta dharmeṇa paripālayet | dharmamūlāṃ śriyaṃ prāpya na jahāti na hīyate ||
يُعلِّم فيدورا أن الملك ينبغي أن ينال السلطان بالدهرما (الاستقامة) وأن يحفظه بالدهرما. فإذا كانت النعمة والبركة الملكية متجذّرتين في الدهرما، لم يتركهما الحاكم ولم تتركاه؛ فالسلطان المؤسَّس على العدل يدوم، وأما السلطان المكتسَب بغير ذلك فمضطرب زائل.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule must be both acquired and maintained through dharma. Prosperity that rests on righteousness remains steady; it neither deserts the ruler nor is discarded by him, implying that moral foundations are the true source of political stability.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled setting before the great war, Vidura addresses the Kuru court and advises the ruler on rajadharma—how to gain and preserve sovereignty—warning implicitly against power sought through adharma, which leads to loss and ruin.