Shloka 63
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
लताधर्मा त्वं सपुत्र: शाला: पाण्डुसुता मता: । न लता वर्धते जातु महाद्रुममनाश्रिता
latādharmā tvaṃ saputraḥ śālāḥ pāṇḍusutā matāḥ | na latā vardhate jātu mahādrumam anāśritā ||
Vidura berkata: “Engkau beserta putra-putramu bagaikan sulur merambat, sedangkan putra-putra Pāṇḍu dipandang laksana pohon śāla yang agung. Sulur takkan pernah tumbuh sungguh-sungguh tanpa bersandar pada pohon besar.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the weak or unstable should not act in arrogant independence against the strong and righteous; like a vine, one prospers by taking proper support—through humility, wise alliance, and adherence to dharma—rather than by antagonism.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura counsels the Kuru side (addressing Duryodhana and his party) during the tense pre-war negotiations. Using a metaphor, he warns that opposing the Pāṇḍavas is self-destructive and urges a policy of reconciliation and prudent dependence instead of confrontation.