Shloka 35
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
गौएँ गन्धसे, ब्राह्मणलोग वेदोंसे, राजा गुप्तचरोंसे और अन्य साधारण लोग आँखोंसे देखा करते हैं ।।
gāvo gandhasena brāhmaṇā vedaiḥ rājā guptacaraiḥ anye ca sāmānyā janā netraiḥ paśyanti || bhūyāṁsaṁ labhate kleśaṁ yā gaur bhavati durduhā | atha yā suduhā rājan naiva tāṁ vitudanty api ||
Sapi dikenal dari baunya, brahmana dari Weda, raja dari para mata-mata rahasianya, dan orang kebanyakan dari apa yang tampak oleh mata. Sapi yang hanya dapat diperah dengan susah payah menanggung banyak derita; tetapi sapi yang mudah diperah tidak disakiti sama sekali.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that conduct shapes consequences: resistance expressed as harshness invites force and suffering, while gentleness and readiness to cooperate reduce harm. He also highlights how different beings are recognized by their defining signs—learning, intelligence systems, or direct perception—urging a ruler to understand people through appropriate means.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers counsel in a tense pre-war setting. Using everyday analogies (cow, brahmin, king, common people), he advises the addressed king on prudent governance and on avoiding actions that provoke coercion and escalation.