Shloka 60
अग्निस्तेजो महल्लोके गूढस्तिष्ठति दारुषु । न चोपयुद्धक्ते तद् दारु यावन्नोद्दीप्यते परै:
agnis tejo mahalloke gūḍhas tiṣṭhati dāruṣu | na copayudhyate tad dāru yāvan noddīpyate paraiḥ ||
अग्नि इस लोक में महान् तेज है, जो काठ में छिपी रहती है; परन्तु जब तक दूसरे उसे प्रज्वलित न करें, तब तक वह काठ स्वयं कुछ नहीं करता—न जलता, न दहकता।
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and anger can remain latent like fire hidden in wood; they become destructive only when kindled by external provocation. The ethical counsel is to avoid instigating, provoking, or fanning conflict, and to practice restraint so that latent hostility does not turn into open harm.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral and political counsel aimed at preventing escalation toward war. Using the metaphor of fire concealed in wood, he warns that destructive forces do not erupt without being ignited—implying that leaders should not provoke others or create conditions that kindle violence.