Shloka 21
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
अतिक्रामति य: शास्त्र पितुर्धर्मार्थदर्शिन: । एते नश्यन्ति कुरवो दुर्योधनकृतेन वै
atikrāmati yaḥ śāstraṁ pitur dharmārthadarśinaḥ | ete naśyanti kuravo duryodhanakṛtena vai ||
Dice Vidura: Quien traspasa los mandatos del śāstra y se niega a escuchar incluso a su padre—que ve con claridad qué es dharma y qué conduce al verdadero bien—se convierte en causa de ruina. En verdad, es únicamente por la conducta de Duryodhana que los Kaurava están siendo destruidos.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Disregard for śāstra and contempt for wise parental counsel—especially from one who understands dharma and true welfare—leads not only to personal fault but to collective ruin; a leader’s adharma can destroy an entire clan.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura warns the Kuru king (implicitly Dhṛtarāṣṭra) that Duryodhana’s stubborn rejection of ethical law and counsel is driving the Kauravas toward inevitable destruction, foreshadowing the coming war.