Shloka 38
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
आत्मनो बलमज्ञाय धर्मार्थपरिवर्जितम् | अलभ्यमिच्छन् नैष्कर्म्यान्मूढबुद्धिरिहोच्यते
ātmano balam ajñāya dharmārtha-parivarjitam | alabhyam icchan naiṣkarmyān mūḍha-buddhir iha ucyate ||
സ്വബലം അറിയാതെ, ധർമ്മവും അർത്ഥവും ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, ലഭിക്കാത്തതിനെ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച്, കർമത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മാറിനിൽക്കുന്നവൻ—ഇവിടെ മൂഢബുദ്ധി എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura warns that wisdom begins with realistic self-assessment. Desiring the unattainable while discarding both dharma (moral duty) and artha (prudent welfare) is a mark of deluded judgment; it often masquerades as “inaction” or “renunciation,” but is actually irresponsible avoidance of right action.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura delivers ethical and political instruction. Here he characterizes a certain type of misguided person—one who ignores his true capacity and abandons dharma and practical good—thereby offering a warning relevant to the escalating conflict and decision-making around war and diplomacy.