Shloka 60
Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
धूमायन्ते व्यपेतानि ज्वलन्ति सहितानि च | धृतराष्ट्रोल्मुकानीव ज्ञातयो भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ धृतराष्ट्र! जलती हुई लकड़ियाँ अलग-अलग होनेपर धुआँ फेंकती हैं और एक साथ होनेपर प्रज्वलित हो उठती हैं। इसी प्रकार जातिबन्धु भी (आपसमें) फूट होनेपर दुःख उठाते और एकता होनेपर सुखी रहते हैं
dhūmāyante vyapetāni jvalanti sahitāni ca | dhṛtarāṣṭrolmukānīva jñātayo bharatarṣabha ||
Vidura says: “When firebrands are separated, they only smoke; when kept together, they blaze. In the same way, kinsmen—like the firebrands of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—suffer when divided, but flourish when united, O bull among the Bharatas.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unity among relatives and allies is strength: separated, they become weak and only ‘smoke’ with distress; united, they ‘blaze’ with prosperity and effectiveness. Vidura urges Dhṛtarāṣṭra to prevent factionalism and keep the Kuru family together.
In Udyoga Parva, as war looms, Vidura counsels Dhṛtarāṣṭra with moral and political wisdom. Using the image of firebrands, he warns that the Kuru kin will suffer if split by hostility, but will thrive if reconciled and united.