Shloka 23
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरनीतिः (Adhyāya 37): आयुःक्षयहेतवः, नीतिसूत्राणि, बलभेदाः, पाण्डव-विग्रहदोषदर्शनम्
कर्मणां तु प्रशस्तानामनुष्ठानं सुखावहम् । तेषामेवाननुष्ठानं पश्चात्तापकरं मतम्,उत्तम कर्मोंका अनुष्ठान तो सुख देनेवाला होता है, किंतु उन्हींका अनुष्ठान न किया जाय तो वह पश्चात्तापका कारण माना गया है
karmaṇāṁ tu praśastānām anuṣṭhānaṁ sukhāvaham | teṣām evānanuṣṭhānaṁ paścāttāpakaraṁ matam ||
Vidura says that the performance of commendable deeds brings well-being and peace. But failing to carry out those very duties is held to be a cause of later remorse—because one knowingly neglects what ought to be done.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should actively perform approved, dharmic duties, because their practice yields well-being; neglecting them later produces remorse, since the mind recognizes it failed to do what was right.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled setting, Vidura instructs the Kuru leadership on ethical conduct, emphasizing that right action must be enacted—not merely known—otherwise its omission becomes a source of regret.