Shloka 29
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
प्रह्नाद बोले--ब्रह्मन्! मेरे एक ही पुत्र है और इधर तुम स्वयं उपस्थित हो; भला, तुम दोनोंके विवादमें मेरे-जैसा मनुष्य कैसे निर्णय दे सकता है? ।। युधन्वोवाच गां प्रदद्यास्त्वौरसाय यद्धान्यत् स्यात् प्रियं धनम् । द्वयोविवदतोस्तथ्यं वाच्यं च मतिमंस्त्वया,सुधन्वा बोला--मतिमन्! तुम्हारे पास गौ तथा दूसरा जो कुछ भी प्रिय धन हो, वह सब अपने औरस पुत्र विरोचनको दे दो; परंतु हम दोनोंके विवादमें तो तुम्हें ठीक-ठीक उत्तर देना ही चाहिये
prahrāda uvāca—brahman! mamaika eva putraḥ, iha ca bhavān svayam upasthitaḥ; bhala, yuvayor vivāde mama-sadṛśo manuṣyaḥ kathaṃ nirṇayaṃ dātuṃ śaknoti? ||
sudhanvā uvāca—gāṃ pradadyās tv aurasāya, yad dhānyat syāt priyaṃ dhanam; dvayor vivadatos tathyaṃ vācyaṃ ca matimāṃs tvayā ||
Prahrāda said: “O Brahmin, I have but one son, and you yourself stand here before me. In a dispute between the two of you, how could a man like me render a decision?” Sudhanvā replied: “Give the cow—and whatever other dear wealth you possess—to your own legitimate son, Virocana. But as for the dispute between us two, you, being wise, must speak the truth and give a precise answer.”
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when personal ties and interests exist, one must not evade truth in judgment. Sudhanvā insists that Prahrāda separate private affection (giving wealth to his own son) from public duty (speaking the factual truth in a dispute).
Prahrāda hesitates to arbitrate because one party is his only son and the other is a respected Brahmin present before him. Sudhanvā answers by allowing Prahrāda to favor his son materially, yet demands that Prahrāda still deliver an accurate, truthful decision regarding the contested matter.