Shloka 11
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो युक्त तत्राहतुर्वच: । सर्वे तमनुवर्तन्ते ऋते विदुरमच्युत,अच्युत! वहाँ भीष्म तथा द्रोणाचार्य भी सदा उचित बात नहीं कहते हैं। विदुरको छोड़कर अन्य सब लोग दुर्योधनका ही अनुसरण कर लेते हैं
na ca bhīṣmo na ca droṇo yuktaṃ tatrāhatur vacaḥ | sarve tam anuvartante ṛte viduram acyuta ||
Kṛṣṇa said: “There, neither Bhīṣma nor Droṇa speaks what is truly fitting. Except for Vidura, everyone else falls in line behind him (Duryodhana), choosing compliance over what is right.”
कृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even revered authorities can fail to speak dharma when bound by loyalty, fear, or dependence; true righteousness may stand with a lone counselor like Vidura rather than with the majority.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and court deliberations, Kṛṣṇa criticizes the Kuru elders’ compromised counsel: Bhīṣma and Droṇa do not consistently voice what is proper, while most courtiers align themselves with Duryodhana; Vidura alone resists and speaks rightly.