Shloka 22
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
विवेकपूर्ण बुद्धिवाले पुरुष शक्तिके अनुसार काम करनेकी इच्छा रखते हैं और करते भी हैं तथा किसी वस्तुको तुच्छ समझकर उसकी अवहेलना नहीं करते,क्षिप्रं विजानाति चिरं शुणोति विज्ञाय चार्थ भजते न कामात् । नासम्पृष्टो व्युपयुद्धक्ते परार्थे तत् प्रज्ञानं प्रथमं पण्डितस्य विद्वान् पुरुष किसी विषयको देरतक सुनता है; किंतु शीघ्र ही समझ लेता है, समझकर कर्तव्यबुद्धिसे पुरुषार्थमें प्रवृत्त होता है--कामनासे नहीं, बिना पूछे दूसरेके विषयमें व्यर्थ कोई बात नहीं कहता है। उसका यह स्वभाव पण्डितकी मुख्य पहचान है
kṣipraṃ vijānāti ciraṃ śṛṇoti vijñāya cārthaṃ bhajate na kāmāt | nāsampṛṣṭo vyupayuddhate parārthe tat prajñānaṃ prathamaṃ paṇḍitasya ||
Vidura said: “A wise man listens patiently for a long time, yet understands quickly. Having understood, he applies himself to what is truly beneficial and right—not driven by personal desire. And he does not, unasked, intrude into another’s affairs with pointless talk. This discernment is the foremost mark of a learned person.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The hallmark of a wise person is disciplined discernment: listen patiently, grasp the point quickly, act for true benefit (artha/dharma) rather than desire, and avoid meddling or argumentative speech in others’ affairs unless asked.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura is giving counsel on conduct and statesmanship. Here he defines the primary sign of a paṇḍita (learned person) through traits of attentive listening, swift understanding, duty-oriented action, and restrained, non-intrusive speech.