Shloka 256
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
नृशंस्थामयशस्यां च दुःखां कापुरुषोचिताम् | तुझे हिजड़ों
nṛśaṃsathāmayayaśasyāṃ ca duḥkhāṃ kāpuruṣocitām |
বায়ুদেব বললেন—হিজড়া, কপালিক, নিষ্ঠুর মানুষ ও কাপুরুষদের উপযুক্ত ভিক্ষা প্রভৃতি নিন্দনীয় জীবিকা কখনও গ্রহণ করা উচিত নয়; কারণ তা অপযশ ডেকে আনে এবং দুঃখদায়িনী।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not adopt a degrading livelihood that is associated with cruelty or cowardice; such conduct spreads ill-fame (ayaśas) and results in suffering (duḥkha). Dharma is upheld by choosing honorable means even under pressure.
Vāyudeva is speaking a moral admonition within the Udyoga Parva context, emphasizing standards of conduct and warning against ignoble survival-strategies that undermine one’s dignity and reputation.