Shloka 69
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
चत्वारि राज्ञा तु महाबलेन वर्ज्यान्याहु: पण्डितस्तानि विद्यात् । अल्पप्रज्जैः सह मन्त्र न कुर्या- न्न दीर्घसूत्र रभसैश्चारणैश्व
catvāri rājñā tu mahābalena varjyāny āhuḥ paṇḍitas tāni vidyāt | alpaprajñaiḥ saha mantraṃ na kuryān na dīrghasūtraṃ rabhasaiś cāraṇaiś ca ||
Vidura berkata: Orang bijak menasihati raja yang perkasa agar menghindari empat jenis orang; seorang yang arif akan mengenali mereka. Jangan mengadakan musyawarah rahasia dengan yang tumpul pikirannya, yang suka menunda-nunda, yang gegabah, atau para penjilat yang hidup dari pujian.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Confidential policy-making requires discernment about advisers: avoid consulting those who lack understanding, delay decisions, act rashly, or flatter for advantage, because they undermine sound judgment and secrecy—both essential to righteous and effective kingship.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he instructs the ruler on practical ethics of governance, warning which types of associates a powerful king should keep away from private deliberations.