Shloka 46
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
दुष्कुलीन: कुलीनो वा मर्यादां यो न लड्घयेत् । धमपिक्षी मृदुर्हीमान् स कुलीनशताद् वर:
duṣkulīnaḥ kulīno vā maryādāṃ yo na laṅghayet | dharmāpekṣī mṛdur hrīmān sa kulīnaśatād varaḥ ||
Entah lahir dari keluarga rendah atau mulia, orang yang tidak melampaui batas kepantasan, menjadikan dharma sebagai ukuran, berhati lembut dan memiliki rasa malu—ia lebih unggul daripada seratus orang yang hanya mengandalkan keluhuran kelahiran.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral worth is measured by restraint, dharma-guided conduct, gentleness, and modesty—not by birth or social status; a virtuous person surpasses many who are only high-born.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers ethical counsel (Vidura-nīti) during the tense pre-war negotiations, emphasizing standards of character and proper conduct as the true marks of nobility.