Shloka 31
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
स एव भक्त: स गुरु: स भर्ता सवैपिता सच माता सुद्ृच्च । अगाधबुद्धि्विंदुरो दीर्घदर्शी स नो मन्त्री कुशलं तं सम पृच्छे:
sa eva bhaktaḥ sa guruḥ sa bhartā saiva pitā sa ca mātā sudṛḍhaḥ | agādhabuddhir vinduro dīrghadarśī sa no mantrī kuśalaṃ taṃ sama pṛccheḥ ||
तोच खरा भक्त, तोच गुरु, तोच पालनकर्ता व आधार; तोच पिता आणि तोच माता—दृढ व विश्वासार्ह. अगाध बुद्धीचा, दूरदृष्टीचा विदुर आमचा मंत्री आहे. संजय! योग्य मान राखून त्याच्याकडे आमच्या हित-कल्याणाची चौकशी कर.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sound action in crisis should be sought from a counsellor who is steadfast, deeply intelligent, discerning, and far-sighted—someone whose loyalty and care are as comprehensive as that of a teacher, protector, and even parents.
In the Udyoga Parva’s deliberations before war, Yudhiṣṭhira emphasizes the exceptional worth of a particular adviser and urges that he be respectfully consulted about what will truly serve their welfare.