Shloka 33
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
अमित्र कुरुते मित्र मित्र द्वेष्टि हिनस्ति च । कर्म चारभते दुष्ट तमाहुर्मूठडचेतसम्
amitraṁ kurute mitraṁ mitraṁ dveṣṭi hinasti ca | karma cārabhate duṣṭaṁ tam āhur mūḍhacetasaṁ ||
Vidura says: A person is called dull-witted who perversely turns an enemy into a friend, yet hates his true friend and even harms him, and who repeatedly sets in motion wicked undertakings. Such conduct reveals a confused mind and a collapse of ethical discernment in relationships and action.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that ethical intelligence is shown by rightly recognizing friends and enemies and acting accordingly; hating and harming a true friend while embracing an enemy, and repeatedly initiating harmful deeds, is a mark of delusion and poor judgment.
In Vidura’s counsel (Vidura-nīti) within the Udyoga Parva, he offers moral instruction on conduct and discernment, warning against inverted loyalties and habitual wrongdoing as signs of a confused mind.