Shloka 21
नारदेन धृतराष्ट्रगतिवर्णनम् | Nārada’s Account of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Future Course
यो हि धर्म: स विदुरो विदुरो य: स पाण्डव: । स एष राजन दृश्यस्ते पाण्डव: प्रेष्यवत् स्थित:
yo hi dharmaḥ sa viduro viduro yaḥ sa pāṇḍavaḥ | sa eṣa rājan dṛśyaste pāṇḍavaḥ preṣyavat sthitaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «En vérité, l’incarnation même du Dharma était Vidura ; et ce Vidura n’est autre que ce Pāṇḍava. Vois, ô roi : ce Pāṇḍava se tient maintenant devant toi, comme un serviteur.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely a doctrine but can be embodied in persons of integrity. The verse identifies Vidura with dharma and then equates Vidura with the Pāṇḍava (implicitly Yudhiṣṭhira), underscoring that true righteousness may appear in humble, service-like posture rather than in outward power.
Vaiśampāyana points out to the king that the Pāṇḍava standing before him—implicitly Yudhiṣṭhira—is to be understood as Vidura himself, and thus as an embodiment of dharma. The scene emphasizes the Pāṇḍava’s humble stance, described as ‘like a servant,’ despite his royal stature.