Shloka 51
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
इन्द्रियाणामनुत्सगों मृत्युनापि विशिष्यते । अत्यर्थ पुनरुत्सर्ग: सादयेद् दैवतान्यपि
indriyāṇām anutsargo mṛtyunāpi viśiṣyate | atyarthaḥ punar utsargaḥ sādayed daivatāny api ||
Vidura lehrt: Die Sinne zu meistern ist eine Zucht, schwerer als dem Tod ins Auge zu sehen; doch sie völlig ungezügelt zu lassen, ist so verderblich, dass es selbst die Götter zu Fall bringen kann. Das rechte Maß ist Zügelung: weder erzwungene Unterdrückung noch zügellose Hingabe, sondern von Dharma geleitete Selbstbeherrschung.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True discipline lies in balanced restraint of the senses: suppressing them completely is extremely hard, but abandoning restraint is destructive. Dharma is served by regulated control rather than extremes.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers nīti (ethical counsel) amid rising political tension before the great war, warning that inner governance—especially of the senses—is essential for wise action and stability.