Shloka 20
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
उक्त मया द्यूतकाले5पि राजन् नेदं युक्ते वचन प्रातिपेय । तदौषध॑ पथ्यमिवातुरस्य न रोचते तव वैचित्रवीर्य,प्रतीपनन्दन! विचित्रवीर्यकुमार! राजन! मैंने जूएका खेल आरम्भ होते समय भी कहा था कि यह ठीक नहीं है, किंतु रोगीको जैसे दवा और पथ्य अच्छे नहीं लगते, उसी तरह मेरी वह बात भी आपको अच्छी नहीं लगी
uktam mayā dyūtakāle 'pi rājan nedaṁ yuktaṁ vacanaṁ prātīpeya | tad auṣadhaṁ pathyam ivāturasya na rocate tava vaiśitravīrya-pratīpanandana ||
Vidura sprach: „O König, schon als das Würfelspiel begann, sagte ich: ‘Dieser Weg ist nicht recht; dieser Rat soll angenommen werden.’ Doch wie dem Kranken Arznei und heilsame Zucht missfallen, so gefiel dir auch mein Wort nicht, o Sohn Vicitravīryas, Zierde der Linie Pratīpas.“
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wise counsel aligned with dharma may feel unpleasant to those afflicted by attachment and error; like medicine to a patient, it is beneficial even when it is not liked. A ruler must accept corrective advice, especially when actions lead toward adharma and ruin.
Vidura reminds King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that he had warned him already at the outset of the dice-game that it was improper. Dhṛtarāṣṭra did not accept that warning, and Vidura compares the king’s resistance to a sick person rejecting medicine and a healthy regimen.