Shloka 273
Saṃsāra-mārga-vistaraḥ
Vidura’s Expanded Account of the Path
तस्मात् सर्वेषु भूतेषु दया कार्या विपश्चिता । भारत! यह बात निश्चितरूपसे कही जा सकती है कि प्राणियोंको अपने आत्मासे अधिक प्रिय कोई भी वस्तु नहीं है; इसीलिये मरना किसी भी प्राणीको अच्छा नहीं लगता; अतः विद्वान् पुरुषको सभी प्राणियोंपर दया करनी चाहिये
tasmāt sarveṣu bhūteṣu dayā kāryā vipaścitā | bhārata! iyaṃ bāt niścitarūpase kahī jā sakatī hai ki prāṇiyoṃ ko apane ātmā se adhika priya koī bhī vastu nahīṃ hai; isīliye maranā kisī bhī prāṇī ko acchā nahīṃ lagatā; ataḥ vidvān puruṣa ko sabhī prāṇiyoṃ par dayā karanī cāhiye |
Therefore, the wise should cultivate compassion toward all beings. O Bhārata, it can be stated with certainty that no creature holds anything dearer than its own self; for this reason, death is pleasing to none. Hence, a learned person ought to show mercy and kindness to every living being.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches universal compassion: since every being values its own life above all else and none welcomes death, the wise should practice mercy toward all creatures.
In Strī Parva’s aftermath of the Kurukṣetra war, Vidura addresses ‘Bhārata’ (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) with moral counsel, urging compassion and restraint as a dharmic response to the suffering and loss surrounding them.