Shloka 5
तस्माद् वक्ष्यामि ते राजन हित॑ं यत् स्यात् कुरून् प्रति । वच: श्रेयस्करं धर्म्य ब्रुवतस्तन्निबोध मे
tasmād vakṣyāmi te rājan hitaṁ yat syāt kurūn prati | vacaḥ śreyaskaraṁ dharmyaṁ bruvatastannibodha me ||
Therefore, O King, I shall tell you what would be beneficial with regard to the Kurus. Listen attentively to my words as I speak—words that are conducive to true welfare and grounded in dharma.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should heed dharmic counsel aimed at the true welfare (śreyas) of the whole lineage and polity, not merely immediate advantage; wise speech is defined by being both beneficial (hita) and righteous (dharmya).
Vidura addresses the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and prefaces his forthcoming admonition, stating that he will speak what is beneficial for the Kurus and asking the king to listen carefully to his dharma-aligned words.