Shloka 52
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
अवृत्तिर्भयमन्त्यानां मध्यानां मरणाद् भयम् । उत्तमानां तु मर्त्यानामवमानात् परं भयम्,अधम पुरुषोंको जीविका न होनेसे भय लगता है, मध्यम श्रेणीके मनुष्योंको मृत्युसे भय होता है; परंतु उत्तम पुरुषोंको अपमानसे ही महान् भय होता है
avṛttir bhayam antyānāṁ madhyānāṁ maraṇād bhayam | uttamānāṁ tu martyānām avamānāt paraṁ bhayam ||
Vidura teaches that fear takes different forms according to one’s moral and social standing: the lowest are terrified by the loss of livelihood, the middling fear death itself, but the truly noble among mortals fear dishonour above all—because for them integrity and reputation grounded in dharma are dearer than life.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fear reflects one’s values: those driven by mere survival fear loss of livelihood, ordinary people fear death, but the noble fear dishonour most, since they place dharma, self-respect, and moral standing above bodily life.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers moral and political counsel (nīti) in the tense lead-up to war, warning the Kuru court about right conduct; here he contrasts types of fear to highlight the superior standard expected of the truly virtuous.