Shloka 4
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 40 — Vidura’s Ethical Counsel and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fatalistic Turn
धृतराष्ट उवाच कि त्वं न वेद तद् भूयो यन्मे ब्रूयात् सनातन: । त्वमेव विदुर ब्रूहि प्रज्ञाशेषो5स्ति चेत् तव,धृतराष्ट्रने कहा--विदुर! क्या तुम उस तत्त्वको नहीं जानते, जिसे अब पुनः: सनातन ऋषि मुझे बतावेंगे? यदि तुम्हारी बुद्धि कुछ भी काम देती हो तो तुम्हीं मुझे उपदेश करो
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | ki tvaṁ na veda tad bhūyo yan me brūyāt sanātanaḥ | tvam eva vidura brūhi prajñāśeṣo 'sti cet tava ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Vidura, do you not know that truth which the ancient sage will again declare to me? If any remnant of discernment still remains in you, then you yourself tell me—give me counsel.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical necessity of seeking and speaking truthful counsel (nīti) grounded in discernment (prajñā). Dhṛtarāṣṭra urges Vidura to articulate the enduring moral principle—implying that wisdom should be offered plainly, even when power is conflicted or resistant.
In the tense pre-war setting of the Udyoga Parva, Dhṛtarāṣṭra turns to Vidura for guidance. He refers to an ‘ancient sage’ who will again speak to him, and asks Vidura to give his own instruction—revealing both anxiety about impending events and a desire (however wavering) to hear dharmic counsel.