Shloka 45
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय 33: धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर संवादः (विदुरनीतिः)
असन्तो< भ्यर्थिता: सद्धिः क्वचित्कार्ये कदाचन । मन्यन्ते सन््तमात्मानमसन्तमपि विश्रुतम्,कभी किसी कार्यमें सज्जनोंद्वारा प्रार्थित होनेपर दुष्टलोग अपनेको प्रसिद्ध दुष्ट जानते हुए भी सज्जन मानने लगते हैं
asanto 'bhyarthitāḥ saddhiḥ kvacit kārye kadācana | manyante santam ātmānam asantam api viśrutam ||
कधी एखाद्या कार्यासाठी सज्जनांनी विनविले असता दुष्ट लोक—आपण दुष्ट म्हणून प्रसिद्ध आहोत हे जाणूनही—स्वतःला सज्जन मानू लागतात।
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A request or dependence from virtuous people can be misread by the wicked as moral validation. Therefore, one should be cautious: seeking help from an unworthy person may strengthen their arrogance and self-deception rather than reform them.
In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he reflects on human conduct and political-ethical realities. Here he notes how the morally corrupt may start believing themselves respectable when the righteous approach them for some practical need.