Shloka 18
अध्याय ६४ — सभामध्ये क्रोध-निवारणम्
Restraint of wrath in the royal assembly
अव्याधिजं कटुजं तीक्ष्णमुष्णं यशोमुषं परुष॑ पूतिगन्धि । सतां पेयं यन्न पिबन्त्यसन्तो मन्युं महाराज पिब प्रशाम्य
avyādhijaṁ kaṭujaṁ tīkṣṇam uṣṇaṁ yaśomuṣaṁ paruṣaṁ pūtigandhi | satāṁ peyaṁ yan na pibanty asanto manyuṁ mahārāja piba praśāmya ||
Ô grand roi ! Il est un breuvage qui, une fois avalé, dissipe les maladies de l’esprit : né de l’amertume, il est âpre, tranchant et brûlant, rude et d’odeur fétide, voleur de renommée. Les méchants ne peuvent le boire ; les hommes de bien le peuvent. Bois donc ta colère et apaise-toi.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Anger is inherently bitter, burning, and reputation-destroying; the ethical ideal is to ‘drink’ it—i.e., absorb and master it—so that one becomes calm. The virtuous can restrain anger, while the wicked are ruled by it.
In the Sabha Parva’s court setting, Vidura counsels the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) to restrain his wrath and regain composure, warning that anger is foul and fame-stealing, and urging a kingly, dharmic self-control.