Shloka 16
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
विदुर उवाच (राजा लक्षणसम्पन्नस्त्रैलोक्यस्याधिपो भवेत् । प्रेष्यस्ते प्रेषितश्वैव धृतराष्ट्र युधिष्ठिर: ।।
vidura uvāca |
rājā lakṣaṇasampannastrailokyasyādhipo bhavet |
preṣyaste preṣitaścaiva dhṛtarāṣṭra yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Vidura berkata: “Wahai Raja Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yudhiṣṭhira memiliki tanda-tanda raja yang utama; raja semacam itu seakan menjadi penguasa tiga dunia. Ia adalah abdi yang setia kepadamu dan bertindak hanya bila diperintah—namun engkau memperlakukannya seperti lawan.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura asserts that legitimate sovereignty rests on virtues and auspicious royal qualities; a ruler should recognize and honor dharmic excellence (embodied by Yudhiṣṭhira) rather than alienate it through partiality or misjudgment.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and counsel, Vidura admonishes King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, pointing out that Yudhiṣṭhira remains loyal and dutiful, and that Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s stance against him is ethically and politically self-defeating.