Shloka 26
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
शाधीदं राज्यमद्याशु पाण्डवैरभिरक्षितम् । अथवा जिसकी बुद्धि सदा छल-कपटमें ही लगी रहती है उस परम दुर्बुद्धि धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधनको शीघ्र ही बाँधकर पाण्डवोंद्वारा सुरक्षित इस राज्यका शासन कीजिये ।। २५६ || प्रसीद राजशार्दूल विनाशो दृश्यते महान्,नृपश्रेष्ठ! प्रसन्न होइये। पाण्डवों, कौरवों तथा अमिततेजस्वी राजाओंका महान् विनाश दृष्टिगोचर हो रहा है। ऐसा कहकर दीनचित्त विदुरजी चुप हो गये और विशेष चिन्तामें मग्न होकर उस समय बार-बार लंबी साँसें खींचने लगे
śādhīdaṃ rājyam adyāśu pāṇḍavair abhirakṣitam | athavā yasya buddhis sadā chala-kapaṭeṣu eva lagnaiva tiṣṭhati taṃ paramadurbuddhiṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraputraṃ duryodhanaṃ śīghraṃ baddhvā pāṇḍavaiḥ surakṣite 'smin rāṣṭre śāsanaṃ kuru || prasīda rājaśārdūla vināśo dṛśyate mahān | nṛpaśreṣṭha prasanna bhava—pāṇḍavānāṃ kauravāṇāṃ cāmitatejasāṃ ca rājñāṃ mahān vināśo dṛśyate || iti uktvā dīnacitto viduraḥ tūṣṇīṃ babhūva, viśeṣacintāmagnaḥ san tadā punaḥ punaḥ dīrghāṇi niḥśvāsān mumoca |
Vidura urges the king to act at once: either accept and govern the kingdom now under the Pandavas’ protection, or—if Duryodhana’s mind remains fixed on deceit and fraud—have that utterly misguided son of Dhritarashtra swiftly restrained and then rule this realm in safety under the Pandavas’ guardianship. He then pleads, “Be gracious, tiger among kings; a great destruction is coming into view. O best of rulers, be calm—before our eyes looms a vast ruin of the Pandavas, the Kauravas, and the mighty kings as well.” Having spoken thus, Vidura fell silent, his heart heavy; absorbed in anxious thought, he repeatedly drew long, deep breaths.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that a ruler must act decisively for dharma and public safety: reject deceit-driven policy, restrain an unrighteous instigator if necessary, and prevent collective ruin by choosing reconciliation and just governance.
In the tense pre-war negotiations, Vidura warns Dhritarashtra that catastrophe is imminent. He proposes immediate governance aligned with the Pandavas’ protection, or the restraint of Duryodhana whose mind is fixed on fraud; after foretelling massive destruction, Vidura falls silent in grief and anxiety.