Shloka 40
Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
चलचित्तमनात्मानमिन्द्रियाणां वशानुगम् | अर्था: समभिवर्तन्ते हंसा: शुष्क॑ सरो यथा
calacittam anātmānam indriyāṇāṁ vaśānugam | arthāḥ samabhivartante haṁsāḥ śuṣka-saro yathā ||
Seperti angsa berputar di atas telaga yang mengering namun tak turun ke dalamnya, demikian pula harta dan peluang mendekati orang yang gelisah, tanpa penguasaan diri, dan tunduk pada indera—namun akhirnya meninggalkannya.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that prosperity is sustained by self-mastery. A fickle mind and slavery to the senses destroy steadiness, so wealth and opportunities do not remain; they merely appear and then depart.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he delivers moral instruction (Vidura-nīti), warning that inner instability and sense-driven living undermine one’s capacity to retain artha (resources and success).