Shloka 166
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
निशम्य निपुणं बुद्धया विद्वान् दूराद् विवर्जयेत् । वैसे नीच, क्रूर तथा अजितेन्द्रिय पुरुषोंसे होनेवाले संगपर अपनी बुद्धिसे पूर्ण विचार करके विद्वान् पुरुष उसे दूरसे ही त्याग दे
niśamya nipuṇaṃ buddhyā vidvān dūrād vivarjayet | vaiśe nīca-krūra tathā ajitendriya-puruṣebhyo bhavataḥ saṅgaṃ sva-buddhyā pūrṇa-vicāraṃ kṛtvā vidvān puruṣas taṃ dūrata eva tyajet ||
Having carefully listened and reflected with a keen intellect, a wise person should keep away from afar. In the same way, after fully considering with his own discernment, the wise should abandon—right from a distance—any association that arises from low, cruel, and self-uncontrolled men, for such company corrodes judgment and undermines dharma.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wisdom includes social discernment: after careful reflection, one should avoid association with base, cruel, and self-uncontrolled people, and do so early—before their influence can take hold.
Vidura is giving moral and political counsel in the Udyoga Parva, warning that character is shaped by company; therefore a prudent person should keep distance from corrupting associates while deliberating on right conduct amid rising conflict.