Shloka 18
भीष्मद्रोणयोर्दुर्योधनं प्रति शान्त्युपदेशः | Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s Counsel to Duryodhana for Pacification
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्मिन् वाक्यान्तरे वाक्यं क्षत्तापि विदुरोडब्रवीत् | दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य धार्तराष्ट्रममर्षणम्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tasmin vākyāntare vākyam kṣattāpi Viduro ’bravīt | Duryodhanam abhiprekṣya Dhārtarāṣṭram amarṣaṇam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Di tengah pertukaran kata-kata itu, Vidura sang pengawas istana pun berbicara. Menatap Duryodhana—putra Dhṛtarāṣṭra yang mendidih oleh ketaksabaran—Vidura menyela, tak sanggup lagi berdiam diri.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When anger and intolerance dominate a ruler’s mind, wise counsel must intervene. The verse frames Vidura as the voice of dharma confronting Duryodhana’s amarṣa (incapacity to tolerate truth), warning that unchecked passion in leadership leads toward adharma and destructive conflict.
During an ongoing speech in the royal assembly, Vidura interjects. He looks directly at Duryodhana—described as the intolerant son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—and begins to speak, setting up a pointed admonition within the tense pre-war deliberations of the Udyoga Parva.