Shloka 45
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
असन्तो< भ्यर्थिता: सद्धिः क्वचित्कार्ये कदाचन । मन्यन्ते सन््तमात्मानमसन्तमपि विश्रुतम्
asanto 'bhyarthitāḥ saddhiḥ kvacit kārye kadācana | manyante santam ātmānam asantam api viśrutam ||
Kadang-kadang, ketika orang-orang jahat dimohon oleh para saleh untuk suatu keperluan, mereka mulai menganggap diri mereka berbudi—meski sesungguhnya tidak, dan kemungkaran mereka telah masyhur.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A request or dependence from virtuous people can be misread by the wicked as moral validation. Therefore, one should be cautious: seeking help from an unworthy person may strengthen their arrogance and self-deception rather than reform them.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he reflects on human conduct and political-ethical realities. Here he notes how the morally corrupt may start believing themselves respectable when the righteous approach them for some practical need.