Shloka 1
Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
ऑपन-माज बछ। अफि्-"ऋा - यज्ञोपवीतहीन पिताका पुत्र, उपनयन-संस्कारका समय व्यतीत होनेपर भी यज्ञोपवीतरहित, विवाहित होनेपर भी यज्ञोपवीतहीन--ये तीन प्रकारके “व्रात्य' कहे गये हैं। षट्त्रिशो5्ध्याय: दत्तात्रेय और साध्यदेवताओंके संवादका उल्लेख करके महाकुलीन लोगोंका लक्षण बतलाते हुए विदुरका धृतराष्ट्रको समझाना विदुर उवाच अनत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् | आत्रेयस्य च संवाद साध्यानां चेति न: श्रुतम्,विदुरजी कहते हैं--राजन्! इस विषयमें लोग दत्तात्रेय और साध्यदेवताओंके संवादरूप इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं; यह मेरा भी सुना हुआ है
vidura uvāca | atraivodāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | ātreyasya ca saṁvādaṁ sādhyānāṁ ceti naḥ śrutam ||
Vidura said: O King, in this very matter people cite an ancient traditional account as an illustration—the dialogue of Dattātreya (Ātreya) with the Sādhya deities. This is what we have heard handed down.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura frames his ethical counsel by appealing to authoritative tradition: he will support his argument with an ancient exemplary narrative (itihāsa), implying that dharma is clarified through time-tested precedents and the testimony of the wise.
Vidura begins a new section of instruction to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra by introducing a well-known old story—described as a dialogue between Dattātreya (Ātreya) and the Sādhya gods—which he says is part of what has been heard in tradition.