Shloka 42
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरनीतिः (Adhyāya 37): आयुःक्षयहेतवः, नीतिसूत्राणि, बलभेदाः, पाण्डव-विग्रहदोषदर्शनम्
येअर्था: स्त्रीषु समायुक्ता: प्रमत्तपतितेषु च । ये चानार्ये समासक्ता: सर्वे ते संशयं गता:,जो धन आदि पदार्थ स्त्री, प्रमादी, पतित और नीच पुरुषोंके हाथमें सौंप दिये जाते हैं, वे संशयमें पड़ जाते हैं
ye 'rthāḥ strīṣu samāyuktāḥ pramattapatiteṣu ca | ye cānārye samāsaktāḥ sarve te saṁśayaṁ gatāḥ ||
Vidura says: Wealth and resources entrusted to women, to the careless and fallen, or those attached to ignoble men—all such assets inevitably fall into uncertainty and risk. The ethical point is that prosperity requires prudent stewardship; placing valuables under unfit guardianship leads to instability and loss.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that wealth becomes insecure when entrusted to unfit custodians—those who are negligent, morally fallen, or aligned with ignoble conduct. Prosperity depends on discernment in choosing guardians and advisers.
In the Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers counsel in the tense lead-up to war, warning about practical and moral causes of ruin. Here he highlights how misplacing responsibility for wealth and resources leads to instability and loss.