Shloka 68
Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
अव्याधिजं कटुकं शीर्षरोगि पापानुबन्धं परुषं तीक्षणमुष्णम् । सतां पेयं यन्न पिबन्त्यसन्तो मन्युं महाराज पिब प्रशाम्य
avyādhijaṁ kaṭukaṁ śīrṣarogi pāpānubandhaṁ paruṣaṁ tīkṣṇam uṣṇam | satāṁ peyaṁ yan na pibanty asanto manyuṁ mahārāja piba praśāmya ||
Vidura sprach: „O großer König, trinke und verschlinge jenen Zorn — obgleich er ohne leibliche Krankheit aufsteigt, ist er bitter, bringt Kopfschmerz, ist mit Sünde verknüpft, hart, durchdringend scharf und glühend heiß. Es ist ein Trank, der den Guten ziemt und den die Schlechten nicht zu trinken vermögen. Nimm ihn in dich auf und werde ruhig.“
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Anger is inherently bitter and harmful, leading to sinful consequences; the virtuous ‘drink’ it by absorbing and restraining it within themselves rather than letting it spill out as harsh speech or action. True nobility is shown by pacifying wrath and returning to calm judgment.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura counsels the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) amid escalating conflict. He urges the king to restrain his wrath and regain composure, using the striking metaphor of anger as a burning, bitter potion that only the good can swallow.