Shloka 14
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
युधन्वोवाच अन्वालभे हिरण्मयं प्राह्मदे ते वरासनम् | एकत्वमुपसम्पन्नो न त्वासे5हं त्वया सह,सुधन्वा बोला--प्रह्लादनन्दन! मैं तुम्हारे इस सुवर्णमय सुन्दर सिंहासनको केवल छू लेता हूँ, तुम्हारे साथ इसपर बैठ नहीं सकता; क्योंकि ऐसा होनेसे हम दोनों एक समान हो जायूँगे
yudhanvovāca—anvālabhe hiraṇmayaṃ prāhma de te varāsanam | ekatvam upasampanno na tvāse ’haṃ tvayā saha ||
Yudhanvā said: “O Brahmin, I only touch your splendid golden throne; I cannot sit upon it together with you. For if I did, we two would become equals.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical symbolism of seating: touching the throne shows respect, but refusing to sit together preserves perceived propriety and hierarchy. It illustrates how dharma can be expressed through small acts of protocol that signal relative status and boundaries.
Yudhanvā addresses a Brahmin who offers (or possesses) a splendid golden seat. Yudhanvā accepts the honor only to the extent of touching it, but declines to sit with him, stating that sharing the seat would imply equality between them.