Shloka 8
सभा-पर्व, अध्याय 56: विदुरस्य द्यूत-निन्दा
Vidura’s Censure of Dicing and Warning to the Kurus
नारभेतान्यसामर्थ्यात् पुरुष: कार्यमात्मन: । मतिसाम्यं द्वयोर्नास्ति कार्येषु कुरुनन्दन
nārabhetānyasāmarthyāt puruṣaḥ kāryam ātmanaḥ | matisāmyaṃ dvayor nāsti kāryeṣu kurunandana ||
Duryodhana said: “A man should not undertake his own work depending on another’s strength. O joy of the Kurus, in matters of action the opinions of two people never fully coincide.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not base your own undertaking on another person’s power; act from your own capacity and judgment. Also, expect divergence of opinions in practical matters—complete unanimity between two counselors is rare.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana is speaking in a counsel-like tone, asserting a hard, pragmatic principle: reliance on others is risky, and agreement among advisors is unlikely—reflecting his mindset about strategy, control, and decision-making.