Shloka 23
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
न भृत्यानां वृत्तिसंरोधनेन राज्यं धनं॑ संजिघक्षेदपूर्वम् । त्यजन्ति होन॑ वज्चिता वै विरुद्धा: स्निग्धा हामात्या: परिहीनभोगा:
na bhṛtyānāṁ vṛtti-saṁrodhanena rājyaṁ dhanaṁ saṁjighakṣed apūrvam | tyajanti hīna-vacchitā vai viruddhāḥ snigdhā hy amātyāḥ parihīna-bhogāḥ ||
Vidura menasihati bahwa seorang raja tidak patut lebih dahulu memutus penghidupan para pelayannya lalu berusaha merampas kerajaan dan harta orang lain. Sebab ketika nafkah mereka direnggut dan mereka kehilangan kenikmatan hidup, bahkan para menteri yang dahulu penuh kasih dan setia pun pada saat genting itu menjadi bermusuhan dan meninggalkan sang penguasa.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not undermine his own dependents by cutting off their livelihood; such injustice destroys loyalty and turns even trusted ministers into opponents, leading to political collapse.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he warns the king about practical and moral consequences of oppressive policy: depriving servants and officials of maintenance breeds resentment, rebellion, and abandonment at the very moment the ruler seeks external gain.