Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
अथ ये सहिता वृक्षा: सड्चश: सुप्रतिष्ठिता: । ते हि शीघ्रतमान् वातान् सहन्ते<न्योन्यसंश्रयात्
atha ye sahitā vṛkṣāḥ saṅghaśaḥ supratiṣṭhitāḥ | te hi śīghratamān vātān sahante 'nyonya-saṃśrayāt ||
Vidura sprach: „Doch die Bäume, die beisammenstehen, als fest verwurzeltes Gehölz, ertragen selbst die wildesten und schnellsten Winde, weil sie einander stützen.“ In seiner ethischen Absicht lehrt der Vers: Eintracht und gegenseitige Abhängigkeit machen eine Gemeinschaft widerstandsfähig, während Vereinzelung selbst den Starken verwundbar macht.
विदुर उवाच
Strength is amplified by unity: when individuals stand together and support one another, they can withstand even severe adversity; isolation weakens even the capable.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral and political counsel using a natural metaphor: clustered, well-rooted trees survive powerful winds through mutual support—urging solidarity and wise alliance in the face of impending crisis.