Shloka 85
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
राजन भूयो ब्रवीमि त्वां पुत्रेषु सममाचर । समता यदि ते राजनू् स्वेषु पाण्डुसुतेषु वा,राजन! मैं फिर कहता हूँ, यदि आपका अपने पुत्रों और पाण्डवोंमें समानभाव है तो उन सभी पुत्रोंके साथ एक-सा बर्ताव कीजिये
rājan bhūyo bravīmi tvāṁ putreṣu samam ācara | samatā yadi te rājan sveṣu pāṇḍusuteṣu vā ||
王よ、重ねて申す。汝の子らに対し、等しく公平に振る舞え。もし汝が、わが子であれパーンドゥの子らであれ、偏りなき心を真に唱えるのなら、すべてに同一の扱いを示せ。ヴィドゥラは、君主の中立は言葉ではなく、正義にかなった一貫した行いによってこそ証されるのだと迫る。
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must match words with deeds: if he claims impartiality between his own sons and the Pāṇḍavas, he must actually treat them equally in policy, judgment, and conduct. Ethical governance requires consistent fairness, not selective affection.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Vidura counsels Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He urges the king to abandon partiality toward the Kauravas and to act with equal justice toward both sides, warning implicitly that biased conduct will fuel conflict.