Shloka 79
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
कर्णिनालीकनाराचान् निर्हरन्ति शरीरत: । वाक्शल्यस्तु न निर्हर्तु शक्यो हृदिशयो हि सः
karṇinālīkanārācān nirharanti śarīrataḥ | vākśalyas tu na nirhartu śakyo hṛdiśayo hi saḥ ||
Vidura says: Barbed arrows and iron-tipped shafts can be pulled out from the body; but the thorn of cruel speech cannot be extracted, for it lodges in the heart. The teaching is that verbal injury leaves a deeper, more enduring wound than physical harm, and therefore restraint in speech is a central demand of dharma.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Physical injuries may heal when the weapon is removed, but harsh words become an inner ‘thorn’ that remains in the heart; therefore one should practice restraint, truthfulness, and gentleness in speech as part of dharma.
In the counsel of Vidura during the tense pre-war negotiations of the Udyoga Parva, he warns that verbal cruelty causes lasting damage—often more enduring than bodily wounds—urging ethical conduct and measured speech amid conflict.