Shloka 48
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
ख्रुवप्रग्रहणो व्रात्य: कीनाशश्नात्मवानपि । रक्षेत्युक्तश्न यो हिंस्यात् सर्वे ब्रह्मृहभि: समा:
dhruva-pragrahaṇo vrātyaḥ kīnāśaś ca ātmavān api | rakṣety uktaḥ śaraṇāgataṃ yo hiṃsyāt sarve brahma-ghnibhiḥ samāḥ ||
Vidura menegaskan: entah ia seorang vrātya (terbuang), petani, atau orang kuat yang teguh jiwanya—bila ia datang memohon suaka dan berkata, “Lindungilah aku,” janganlah disakiti. Siapa pun yang melukai atau membunuh pemohon perlindungan demikian, dipandang setara dengan pelaku brahmahatyā.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Protecting a śaraṇāgata (one who seeks refuge) is a paramount duty. Harming a person who has surrendered and asked for protection is treated as a crime as grave as brahmahatyā, regardless of the supplicant’s social status or personal qualities.
In the Udyoga Parva, Vidura instructs the Kuru court on righteous conduct amid rising conflict. Here he emphasizes the inviolability of asylum: even if the person seeking protection is socially marginal or personally formidable, the protector must not betray that plea.