Shloka 49
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
तृणोल्कया ज्ञायते जातरूप॑ं वृत्तेन भद्रो व्यवहारेण साधु: । शूरो भयेष्वर्थकृच्छेषु धीर: कृच्छेष्वापत्सु सुहृदश्चारयश्च,जलती हुई आगसे सुवर्णकी पहचान होती है, सदाचारसे सत्पुरुषकी, व्यवहारसे श्रेष्ठ पुरुषकी, भय प्राप्त होनेपर शूरकी, आर्थिक कठिनाईमें धीरकी और कठिन आपपत्तिमें शत्रु एवं मित्रकी परीक्षा होती है
tṛṇolkayā jñāyate jātarūpaṁ vṛttena bhadro vyavahāreṇa sādhuḥ | śūro bhayeṣv arthakṛcchreṣu dhīraḥ kṛcchreṣv āpatsu suhṛdaś ca arayaś ca ||
Vidura teaches that true worth is revealed only under testing: gold is known when tried by fire; a good man by his conduct; a truly noble person by his dealings with others. A hero is known when fear arises, a steadfast man when wealth is strained, and in severe calamity one discovers who is genuinely a friend and who is an enemy.
विदुर उवाच