Shloka 13
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
विदुर उवाच अभियुक्त बलवता दुर्बलं हीनसाधनम् | हृतस्वं कामिनं चोरमाविशन्ति प्रजागरा:
vidura uvāca abhi-yuktaḥ balavatā durbalaṁ hīna-sādhanam | hṛta-svaṁ kāminaṁ coram āviśanti prajāgarāḥ ||
Vidura said: “O King, sleeplessness overtakes the weak man who has been challenged by a powerful opponent, the man without resources, the one whose wealth has been taken away, the lust-driven man, and the thief. In each case, inner fear, craving, or guilt destroys peace of mind and keeps one awake at night.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Peace of mind depends on dharmic security and self-mastery: fear from conflict with the powerful, loss of resources, dispossession, uncontrolled desire, and the guilt/fear of theft all produce restless wakefulness.
Vidura is counseling the king in the Udyoga Parva, using a list of types of people who cannot sleep to warn about the mental torment caused by insecurity, craving, and wrongdoing—an ethical admonition relevant to royal conduct and policy.