Shloka 22
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
यथा ते न प्रणश्येयुर्महाराज तथा कुरु । मां चैव धृतराष्ट्रं च पूर्वमेव महामते
yathā te na praṇaśyeyur mahārāja tathā kuru | māṃ caiva dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca pūrvam eva mahāmate ||
Vidura said: “O great king, act in such a way that your line does not perish. And, O wise one, protect me and Dhṛtarāṣṭra beforehand as well—take timely measures before calamity overtakes us.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura urges timely, dharma-aligned action to prevent the ruin of one’s house and dependents; wise governance means anticipating disaster and taking preventive measures rather than reacting after destruction begins.
In the tense pre-war context of the Udyoga Parva, Vidura counsels the king to act decisively so that the Kuru family does not collapse, and he specifically asks that he and Dhṛtarāṣṭra be safeguarded in advance—implying imminent danger if wrong choices continue.