Shloka 29
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
न निल्नवं मन्त्रगतस्य गच्छेत् संसृष्टमन्त्रस्य कुसड्भतस्य । नचब्रूयान्नाश्वसिमि त्वयीति सकारणं व्यपदेशं तु कुर्यात्
na nilnavaṁ mantragatasya gacchet saṁsṛṣṭamantrasya kusaṅgatasya | na ca brūyān nāśvasimi tvayīti sakāraṇaṁ vyapadeśaṁ tu kuryāt ||
Nasihat Vidura: jangan menentang secara terang-terangan seorang raja yang sedang bermusyawarah di balairung di hadapan banyak orang—terlebih bila ia terjerat siasat rahasia dan dipengaruhi para pembantu yang buruk. Jangan pula berkata blak-blakan, “Aku tidak percaya padamu.” Sebaliknya, undurkan diri dari tempat itu dengan alasan yang masuk akal dan tersusun baik—agar keselamatan, martabat, dan peluang memberi nasihat yang benar kelak tetap terjaga.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a ruler is surrounded by many and swayed by corrupt advisers, direct confrontation or blunt distrust is unsafe and ineffective; one should disengage tactfully using a reasonable pretext, preserving one’s security and the chance to counsel rightly later.
Vidura is giving practical guidance on conduct at court: in a public council where the king’s deliberations are compromised by bad associates, a wise person should avoid open contradiction and instead withdraw diplomatically.