Shloka 12
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 92: Kṛṣṇasya sabhāpraveśaḥ
Krishna’s Entry into the Royal Assembly
तत् समर्थ शुभं वाक््यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् । धार्तराष्ट्र: सहामात्यो ग्रहीतुं विदुराहीति,अतः विदुरजी! दुर्योधन और उसके मन्त्रियोंको मेरी शुभ, हितकर, युक्तियुक्त तथा धर्म और अर्थके अनुकूल बात अवश्य माननी चाहिये
tat samarthaṁ śubhaṁ vākyaṁ dharmārthasahitaṁ hitam | dhārtarāṣṭraḥ sahāmātyo grahītuṁ viduro 'bravīt ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Vidura spoke thus: ‘Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana), together with his ministers, ought to accept this capable, auspicious counsel—beneficial, well-reasoned, and in harmony with both dharma and prudent statecraft.’”
(वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sound counsel should be judged by its alignment with dharma (moral right) and artha (practical welfare). Advice that is both ethical and politically prudent is to be accepted, even when it challenges one’s desires.
In the Udyoga Parva’s diplomatic and counsel-filled setting, Vidura urges that Duryodhana, along with his ministers, should accept beneficial advice—framed as effective, auspicious, and consistent with both righteousness and statecraft.