Shloka 38
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
आत्मनो बलमज्ञाय धर्मार्थपरिवर्जितम् | अलभ्यमिच्छन् नैष्कर्म्यान्मूढबुद्धिरिहोच्यते
ātmano balam ajñāya dharmārtha-parivarjitam | alabhyam icchan naiṣkarmyān mūḍha-buddhir iha ucyate ||
Dijo Vidura: Aquel que, sin conocer su propia fuerza, persigue lo inalcanzable y, para ello, abandona tanto el dharma como el artha—ése es llamado aquí necio de entendimiento, pues se aparta del sendero de la acción responsable y cae en una inacción extraviada.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura warns that wisdom begins with realistic self-assessment. Desiring the unattainable while discarding both dharma (moral duty) and artha (prudent welfare) is a mark of deluded judgment; it often masquerades as “inaction” or “renunciation,” but is actually irresponsible avoidance of right action.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura delivers ethical and political instruction. Here he characterizes a certain type of misguided person—one who ignores his true capacity and abandons dharma and practical good—thereby offering a warning relevant to the escalating conflict and decision-making around war and diplomacy.