Shloka 146
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
या चैव फलनिर्वत्ति: सौहदे चैव यत् सुखम् । उपर्युक्त दोषोंके अतिरिक्त और भी जो महान् दोष हैं
yā caiva phalanirvṛttiḥ sauhṛde caiva yat sukham |
Vidura says: “And whatever attainment of results arises from goodwill, and whatever happiness is found in friendship—when goodwill is destroyed, the affection of base-minded people collapses, and with it perish both the fruition of benefits and the joy that depend upon that bond. Therefore, beyond the faults already stated, one should abandon those people who are burdened with further grave defects.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Goodwill (sauhṛda) is the basis for both practical benefit (phalanirvṛtti) and genuine happiness (sukha). When goodwill is lost—especially with ignoble people—the relationship’s affection and its fruits collapse; hence one should renounce association with those marked by serious faults.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral-political counsel during the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he continues advising about discerning companionship: relationships lacking true goodwill, particularly with morally defective persons, should be abandoned because they cannot sustain trust, benefit, or peace.