Shloka 70
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
अष्टौ तान्यव्रतघ्नानि आपो मूल फलं पय: । हविर्त्राह्मणकाम्या च गुरोरवचनमौषधम्,जल, मूल, फल, दूध, घी, ब्राह्मणकी इच्छापूर्ति, गुरुका वचन और औषध--ये आठ व्रतके नाशक नहीं होते
aṣṭau tāny avrataghnāni āpo mūla-phalaṁ payaḥ | havir brāhmaṇa-kāmyā ca guror vacanam auṣadham ||
ഈ എട്ടും വ്രതത്തെ നശിപ്പിക്കുകയില്ല—ജലം, കന്ദമൂലം, ഫലം, പാൽ, ഹവി (നെയ്യ്), ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ ന്യായമായ ആഗ്രഹം നിറവേറ്റൽ, ഗുരുവചനാനുസരണം, ഔഷധം.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that dharma is not harmed by life-sustaining and duty-supporting allowances during a vow: simple foods like water, roots, fruits, milk, sacrificial ghee, fulfilling a brāhmaṇa’s rightful request, obeying the guru, and taking medicine. The principle is that vows serve righteousness and self-control, not self-destruction.
In Vidura’s counsel (nīti) within the Udyoga Parva, he lays down practical ethical guidance for disciplined living. Here he lists specific exceptions—things permitted without ‘breaking’ a vow—framing restraint as compatible with compassion, duty, and preservation of health.