Shloka 64
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
वन राजंस्तव पुत्रो55म्बिकेय सिंहान् वने पाण्डवांस्तात विद्धि । सिंहैर्विहीनं हि वनं विनश्येत् सिंहा विनश्येयु्रते वनेन
vana rājan tava putro ’mbikeya siṁhān vane pāṇḍavāṁs tāta viddhi | siṁhair vihīnaṁ hi vanaṁ vinaśyet siṁhā vinaśyeyur ṛte vanena, rājan |
വിദുരൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവേ, അംബികാനന്ദനേ! നിന്റെ പുത്രൻ ഒരു വനത്തെപ്പോലെ; ആ വനത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്ന സിംഹങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ പാണ്ഡവരെ അറിയുക. സിംഹങ്ങളില്ലാത്ത വനം നശിക്കും; വനമില്ലാതെ സിംഹങ്ങളും നശിക്കും.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches political and ethical interdependence: a kingdom (the ‘forest’) and its great warriors/protectors (the ‘lions’) sustain each other. Excluding or destroying the Pāṇḍavas harms not only them but also the Kuru polity and Duryodhana’s own stability; dharma lies in preserving mutual support rather than pursuing ruinous hostility.
In Udyoga Parva, as war looms, Vidura counsels King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Using a metaphor, he urges the king to see that Duryodhana’s power and the Pāṇḍavas’ presence are mutually sustaining; driving the Pāṇḍavas away or seeking their destruction will ultimately devastate the Kuru realm and its leadership.