Shloka 73
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
स्त्रीधूर्तकेडलसे भीरौ चण्डे पुरुषमानिनि । चौरे कृतघ्ने विश्वासो न कार्यो न च नास्तिके,सत्रीलम्पट, आलसी, डरपोक, क्रोधी, पुरुषत्वके अभिमानी, चोर, कृतघ्न और नास्तिकका विश्वास नहीं करना चाहिये
strīdhūrtakeḍalase bhīrau caṇḍe puruṣamānini | caure kṛtaghne viśvāso na kāryo na ca nāstike ||
Vidura advises that trust should not be placed in certain unreliable or harmful dispositions: a womanizer and deceiver, the indolent, the cowardly, the violent-tempered, one vainly proud of his manhood, a thief, an ingrate, and an unbeliever (nāstika).
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Trust is a moral and practical commitment; it should not be given to people whose habits show deceit, ingratitude, violence, cowardice, theft, or denial of dharma, because such traits predict betrayal and harm.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers hard-headed ethical counsel during the tense pre-war negotiations, warning that political and personal decisions fail when one relies on persons of corrupt character.