Shloka 16
सभा-पर्व, अध्याय 56: विदुरस्य द्यूत-निन्दा
Vidura’s Censure of Dicing and Warning to the Kurus
दृष्ट होतद् विदुरेणैव सर्व विपक्षिता बुद्धिविद्यानुगेन । तदेवैतदवशस्याभ्युपैति महदू भयं क्षत्रियजीवधाति,बुद्धि और विद्याका अनुसरण करनेवाले विद्वान् विदुरने यह सब परिणाम पहलेसे ही देख लिया था। क्षत्रियोंके लिये विनाशकारी वही यह महान् भय मुझ विवशके सामने आ रहा है
Dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca — dṛṣṭaṃ hy etad vidureṇaiva sarvaṃ vipakṣitaṃ buddhividyānugena | tad evaitad avaśasyābhyupaiti mahad bhayaṃ kṣatriyajīvaghāti ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Vidura—wise, and guided by intellect and learning—had already foreseen all this and weighed its consequences. Now that very great fear, destructive to the lives of kṣatriyas, is advancing upon me, helpless as I am.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wise counsel grounded in discernment and learning can foresee the ethical and practical consequences of adharma; ignoring such counsel leads to collective ruin, especially for rulers and warriors.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects that Vidura had already predicted the disastrous outcome of the unfolding conflict; he now feels powerless as a great, kṣatriya-destroying danger draws near.