Shloka 17
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
क्रोधो हर्षश्न दर्पश्ष ही: स्तम्भो मान्यमानिता । यमर्थान्नापकर्षन्ति स वै पण्डित उच्यते,क्रोध, हर्ष, गर्व, लज्जा, उद्ण्डता तथा अपनेको पूज्य समझना--ये भाव जिसको पुरुषार्थसे भ्रष्ट नहीं करते, वही पण्डित कहलाता है
krodho harṣaś ca darpaś ca hrīḥ stambho mānyamānitā | yam arthān nāpakarṣanti sa vai paṇḍita ucyate ||
Dijo Vidura: “Ira, júbilo, soberbia, vergüenza, terquedad y esa estima de sí que exige honores: aquel a quien estos estados no apartan de sus fines rectos ni de la conducta justa, a ese se le llama verdaderamente sabio.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly wise person is not thrown off course from righteous aims by powerful inner states—whether negative (anger, stubbornness) or seemingly positive (elation, desire for honor). Wisdom is shown as steadiness and self-governance.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers ethical and political counsel (nīti) during the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he defines the mark of a paṇḍita as one who remains undisturbed in purpose and dharma despite emotional surges and ego-driven impulses.