Shloka 30
उतथ्योपदेशः—राजधर्मः, दर्पनिग्रहः, प्रजारक्षणम्
Utathya’s Instruction: Royal Dharma, Restraint of Pride, Protection of Subjects
मत्तात्प्रमत्तात् पौगण्डादुन्मत्ताच्च विशेषत: । तदभ्यासादुपावर्त संहितानां च सेवनात्
mattāt pramattāt paugaṇḍād unmattāc ca viśeṣataḥ | tadabhyāsād upāvarta saṃhitānāṃ ca sevanāt ||
ウタティヤは言った。「離れよ——とりわけ、酔える者、怠る者、未熟な若者、そして狂える者から。彼らとの常の交わりからさえ身を引き、彼らが寄り集まって密に群れるときには、仕え奉ることをも避けよ。かかる近接と奉仕は、人を彼らの過失へと引き込み、徳の衰えへ導くからである。」
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should protect one’s character by avoiding close association and service to people who are intoxicated, heedless, immature, or mentally unstable, because habitual proximity normalizes their behavior and can corrupt one’s own judgment and conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, the sage Utathya gives practical counsel: moral safety requires choosing one’s company carefully and withdrawing from environments where disorderly or irresponsible persons dominate.