Shloka 70
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
असंत्यागात् पापकृतामपापां- स्तुल्यो दण्ड: स्पृशते मिश्रभावात् | शुष्केणाद दहाते मिश्रभावात् तस्मात् पापै: सह सन्धिं न कुर्यात्
asantyāgāt pāpakṛtām apāpāṁs tulyo daṇḍaḥ spṛśate miśrabhāvāt | śuṣkeṇārdraṁ dahate miśrabhāvāt tasmāt pāpaiḥ saha sandhiṁ na kuryāt ||
Bila seseorang tidak meninggalkan para pelaku dosa, maka karena pergaulan dan percampuran dengan mereka, bahkan yang tak bersalah pun tersentuh hukuman yang sama. Seperti kayu basah yang tercampur dengan kayu kering ikut terbakar, demikianlah jangan pernah menjalin persekutuan atau kedekatan dengan orang fasik.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not keep close company or form alliances with wrongdoers; association with sin brings shared consequences, and even the innocent can be punished when they remain mixed with the guilty.
In the Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral and political counsel, warning that remaining allied with wicked people endangers the blameless as well—illustrated by the image of wet wood burning when mixed with dry fuel.