Shloka 74
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
सुवर्णपुष्पां पृथिवीं चिन्वन्ति पुरुषास्त्रय: । शूरश्न कृतविद्यश्न यश्व जानाति सेवितुम्,शूर, विद्वान् और सेवाधर्मको जाननेवाले--ये तीन प्रकारके मनुष्य पृथ्वीरूप लतासे सुवर्णरूपी पुष्पका संचय करते हैं
suvarṇapuṣpāṃ pṛthivīṃ cinvanti puruṣās trayaḥ | śūraś ca kṛtavidyaś ca yaś ca jānāti sevitum ||
Vidura said: This earth is like a creeper bearing golden flowers. Only three kinds of men gather those golden blossoms—the brave who act with courage, the learned whose training and knowledge are accomplished, and the one who understands how to serve, knowing the discipline and proper art of attendance.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The world’s true ‘gold’ is obtained by three capacities: courage (śaurya), accomplished learning (kṛtavidyā), and the knowledge of proper service (sevanadharma). Prosperity and honor follow disciplined qualities, not mere status.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura speaks in a nīti (ethical advisory) mode, using a metaphor—earth as a golden-flowered creeper—to instruct that only certain virtuous types can truly secure the world’s rewards.