Shloka 21
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
काकैरिमांश्रित्रबर्हान् मयूरान् पराजयेथा: पाण्डवान् धार्राष्ट्रे: । हित्वा सिंहान् क्रोष्टकान् गूहमान: प्राप्ते काले शोचिता त्वं॑ नरेन्द्र
kākair imān śritabarhān mayūrān parājayethāḥ pāṇḍavān dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ | hitvā siṃhān kroṣṭakān gūhamānaḥ prāpte kāle śocitā tvaṃ narendra narendra ||
Wahai raja, dengan burung gagak—yakni putra-putramu sendiri—engkau hendak menaklukkan para Pāṇḍava yang laksana merak berbuluh indah. Meninggalkan singa, engkau justru melindungi serigala-jakal; ketika saat penentuan tiba, engkau akan meratap atas pilihan itu, wahai penguasa manusia.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that a ruler must align with dharma and genuine strength (the “lions”), not protect the unworthy out of attachment (the “jackals”). Attempting to overpower the noble with ignoble means (crows vs peacocks) leads to inevitable sorrow when consequences mature.
In Udyoga Parva, as war approaches, Vidura admonishes Dhṛtarāṣṭra for supporting his sons against the Pāṇḍavas. He uses sharp animal metaphors to warn that the king’s partiality and protection of adharma will culminate in grief at the decisive moment.