Shloka 17
अध्याय ६४ — सभामध्ये क्रोध-निवारणम्
Restraint of wrath in the royal assembly
यस्तु धर्मपरश्न स्याद्धित्वा भर्तुः प्रियाप्रिये | अप्रियाण्याह पथ्यानि तेन राजा सहायवान्
yastu dharmaparaśnaḥ syād hitvā bhartuḥ priyāpriye | apriyāṇy āha pathyāni tena rājā sahāyavān ||
Celui qui, voué au dharma, mettant de côté le souci de plaire ou de déplaire à son maître, dit les paroles salutaires même lorsqu’elles sont malvenues, celui-là est le véritable soutien du roi.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s best support is a counsellor devoted to dharma who prioritizes beneficial truth over personal safety or the ruler’s momentary pleasure, and who can speak even unwelcome advice for the king’s long-term good.
In Vidura’s discourse on right conduct and governance, he defines the qualities of a genuine royal adviser: one who does not flatter, but offers salutary guidance grounded in dharma, even when it displeases the ruler.