Shloka 14
विदुर-धृतराष्ट्रसंवादः
Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Dialogue on Rajadharma and Restitution
परं श्रेय: पाण्डवेया मयोक्तं न मे तच्च श्रुतवानाम्बिकेय: । यथा<5तुरस्येव हि पथ्यमन्ने न रोचते स्मास्य तदुच्यमानम्,पाण्डवो! मैंने दोनों पक्षके लिये परम कल्याणकी बात बतायी थी, परंतु अम्बिकानन्दन महाराज धूृतराष्ट्रने मेरी वह बात नहीं सुनी। जैसे रोगीको हितकर भोजन अच्छा नहीं लगता, उसी प्रकार राजा धूृतराष्ट्रको मेरी कही हुई हितकर बात भी पसंद नहीं आती
paraṁ śreyaḥ pāṇḍaveyā mayoktaṁ na me tac chrutavān ambikeyaḥ | yathāturasyeva hi pathyam anne na rocate smāsya tad ucyamānam ||
Vidura said: “I spoke of the highest good for the Pāṇḍavas and for all concerned; yet Ambikā’s son (King Dhṛtarāṣṭra) did not heed my words. Just as wholesome food does not appeal to a sick man, so too my beneficial counsel, though spoken, found no favor with him.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the best dharmic counsel (śreyas) may be rejected by one whose judgment is impaired by attachment or inner ‘disease’; moral truth can feel unpleasant, like wholesome food to the sick.
Vidura reflects that he offered Dhṛtarāṣṭra guidance aimed at the highest welfare of the Pāṇḍavas and the realm, but the king refused to listen, illustrating the court’s resistance to corrective advice.