Shloka 8
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
समृद्धा गुणतः: केचिद् भवन्ति धनतो<परे । धनवृद्धान् गुणैहीनान् धृतराष्ट्र विवर्जय
samṛddhā guṇataḥ kecid bhavanti dhanato 'pare | dhanavṛddhān guṇaihīnān dhṛtarāṣṭra vivarjaya ||
Vidura sprach: „Manche werden durch Tugenden reich, andere durch Besitz. O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, wende dich gänzlich von denen ab, die an Reichtum zunehmen, doch an guten Eigenschaften arm sind.“
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True worth is measured by guṇa (virtue and character), not merely by dhana (wealth). A ruler should not favor or keep close those who are wealthy but lack moral qualities, because such association corrupts governance and dharma.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura addresses King Dhṛtarāṣṭra with ethical guidance, urging him to discriminate in whom he supports and associates with—specifically to reject wealthy yet unprincipled persons.