Shloka 42
प्रह्नमादजीका न्याय आत्रेय मुनि और साध्यगण नैनं छनन््दांसि वृजिनात् तारयन्ति मायाविनं मायया वर्तमानम् | नीडं शकुन्ता इव जातपक्षा- श्छन्दांस्थेनं प्रजहत्यन्तकाले,कपट॒पूर्ण व्यवहार करनेवाले मायावीको वेद पापोंसे मुक्त नहीं करते; किंतु जैसे पंख निकल आनेपर चिड़ियोंके बच्चे घोंसला छोड़ देते हैं, उसी प्रकार वेद भी अन्तकालमें उस (मायावी)-को त्याग देते हैं
na enam chandāṁsi vṛjināt tārayanti māyāvinaṁ māyayā vartamānam | nīḍaṁ śakuntā iva jātapakṣāś chandāṁsy enaṁ prajahaty antakāle ||
Vidura said: The Vedic hymns do not rescue from sin a deceitful man who lives by deception. Rather, at the end of his life, the Vedas abandon him—just as fledgling birds, once their wings have grown, leave the nest behind.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Scriptural learning or ritual association cannot protect a person who lives by deceit; dharma requires inner integrity. At life’s end, mere recitation or external affiliation with the Vedas is of no refuge if one’s conduct is fraudulent.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he warns against kapata (duplicity): the Vedas themselves are portrayed as withdrawing support from a māyāvin, using the vivid simile of fledgling birds leaving the nest once they have wings.