Shloka 2
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
त्वं मां यथावद् विदुर प्रशाधि प्रज्ञापूर्व सर्वमजातशत्रो: | यन्मन्यसे पथ्यमदीनसत्त्व श्रेयस्करं ब्रूहि तद् वै कुरूणाम्,उदारचित्त विदुर! तुम अपनी बुद्धिसे विचारकर मुझे ठीक-ठीक उपदेश करो। जो बात युधिष्ठिरके लिये हितकर और कौरवोंके लिये कल्याणकारी समझो, वह सब अवश्य बताओ
tvaṁ māṁ yathāvad vidura praśādhi prajñāpūrvaṁ sarvam ajātaśatroḥ | yan manyase pathyam adīnasattva śreyaskaraṁ brūhi tad vai kurūṇām | udāracitta vidura |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Vidura, instruct me properly and in full, with your wisdom. Tell me whatever you judge to be wholesome for Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) and truly conducive to the welfare of the Kurus. O noble-minded Vidura, speak what leads to the highest good.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should seek and accept frank, wisdom-based counsel that prioritizes what is truly wholesome (pathyam) and leads to the highest good (śreyas), not merely what is convenient or self-serving—aiming at the welfare of all parties.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Dhṛtarāṣṭra turns to Vidura and asks him to give complete, thoughtful guidance—specifically what would benefit Yudhiṣṭhira (Ajātaśatru) and also secure the welfare of the Kurus—signaling a moment where moral counsel is sought amid looming conflict.