Shloka 5
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
इस इतिहासमें जो कल्याणकारी उपदेश हो
ānandana mayā jāta dviṣatāṁ harṣavardhana | na mayā tvaṁ na pitrā ca jātaḥ kvābhyāgato hāsi ||
In this tale, whatever wholesome instruction it contains, repeat it exactly before Yudhiṣṭhira. There was a kṣatriya woman famed as Vidulā—born in a fine lineage, illustrious and radiant with power, proud in honor, self-mastered, devoted to kṣatriya-dharma, and far-sighted. In the circle of kings her renown was great. She knew many śāstras and drew profit from the counsels of great men. Once her son, defeated by the king of Sindhu, returned home in utter dejection and lay down to sleep. Seeing her own true-born son in that state, Queen Vidulā bitterly condemned him. Vidulā said: “O son, though born from my womb, you bring me no joy. Instead you increase the delight of our enemies. Therefore I am driven to think you were not truly born of me, nor begotten by your father—how else could such a coward have appeared among us?”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya must not collapse into shameful passivity after defeat; cowardice strengthens the enemy. Vidulā uses harsh, honor-based rhetoric to shock her son into reclaiming courage, self-respect, and duty.
After Vidulā’s son returns home dejected and sleeps following defeat by Sindhurāja, Vidulā rebukes him. In this verse she sarcastically calls him “bringer of joy,” then declares that his behavior is so disgraceful that she can hardly believe he is truly her son.