Shloka 47
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
न तथेच्छन्ति कल्याणान् परेषां वेदितुं गुणान् यथीैषां ज्ञातुमिच्छन्ति नैर्गुण्यं पापचेतस:
na tathecchanti kalyāṇān pareṣāṁ vedituṁ guṇān yathaivaiṣāṁ jñātum icchanti nairguṇyaṁ pāpacetasaḥ
বিদুর বললেন—যাদের চিত্ত পাপে আসক্ত, তারা অন্যের মঙ্গলময় গুণ জানতে ততটা আগ্রহী নয়; বরং তারা অধিক আগ্রহে অন্যের দোষ-ত্রুটি খুঁজে জানতে চায়।
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A mind inclined to wrongdoing naturally prefers fault-finding over appreciating virtue. Ethical perception is shaped by inner character: purity seeks good qualities, while corruption hunts defects.
In Vidura’s counsel during the tense pre-war deliberations, he diagnoses a common moral failing in courtly and political life—people with impure intentions focus on others’ shortcomings rather than their merits—warning against such biased judgment.