Shloka 66
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
अधर्मोपार्जितिरर्थर्य: करोत्यौर्ध्वदेहिकम् । न स तस्य फल प्रेत्य भुछुक्तेडर्थस्य दुरागमात्
adharmopārjito 'rthaḥ karoty aurdhvadehikam | na sa tasya phalaṁ pretya bhuṅkte 'rthasya durāgamāt ||
Vidura says: Wealth acquired through unrighteous means may indeed fund post-death rites and outward religious observances, but the one who gained it unjustly does not enjoy its true fruit after death, because that wealth has come by a sinful and improper path.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual acts performed with wealth gained by adharma do not yield the intended spiritual merit to the wrongdoer; the moral quality of acquisition shapes the after-death fruit.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he warns about the ethical and karmic danger of unjustly acquired wealth, stressing that outward rites cannot override the taint of adharma.