Shloka 81
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
न स्वप्लेन जयेन्निद्रांन कामेन जयेत् स्त्रिय: । नेन्धनेन जयेदर्ग्निं न पानेन सुरां जयेत्
na svalpena jayen nidrāṁ na kāmena jayet striyaḥ | na indhanena jayed agniṁ na pānena surāṁ jayet ||
Vidura rät: Man soll nicht meinen, den Schlaf dadurch zu besiegen, dass man nur wenig schläft; und man soll nicht begehren, eine Frau durch Hingabe an die Lust zu gewinnen. Man bilde sich nicht ein, das Feuer zu überwinden, indem man es mit Holz nährt; und man glaube nicht, die Trinkgewohnheit durch noch mehr Trinken zu besiegen. Ein Laster wird nicht geheilt, indem man es vermehrt; es bedarf der Zügelung und rechter Mittel.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not attempt to remove a weakness by intensifying the very cause of it: sleep is not conquered by token measures, lust does not win true affection, fire is not subdued by adding fuel, and drinking cannot cure the drinking habit. The right remedy is restraint and wise discipline.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers nīti (practical ethical counsel) amid rising tensions before the Kurukṣetra war. This verse is part of his admonitions, using vivid analogies to warn against self-deception and indulgence.