Shloka 54
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
अष्टी नृपेमानि मनुष्यलोके स्वर्गस्थ लोकस्य निदर्शनानि । चत्वार्येषामन्ववेतानि सद्धि- श्वृत्वारि चैषामनुयान्ति सन््तः
aṣṭī nṛpemāni manuṣyaloke svargastha lokasya nidarśanāni | catvāry eṣām anvavetāni saddhiḥ śrutvāri caiṣām anuyānti santaḥ, rājan |
विदुर म्हणाला—राजन्! मनुष्यलोकात असे आठ गुण आहेत, जे स्वर्गलोकाचे स्पष्ट निदर्शक आहेत. त्यांपैकी चार गुण सत्पुरुषांच्या संगतीत नित्यच अविभाज्यपणे असतात—त्यांच्यात सदैव वास करतात; आणि उरलेले चार गुण सज्जन पुरुष जाणूनबुजून अनुसरतात व आचरतात।
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that certain virtues in human life function as markers of a higher, heaven-aligned way of living. Some virtues naturally abide in the truly good, while others must be deliberately pursued—together forming a practical map for ethical conduct.
In the Udyoga Parva, Vidura counsels the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) with moral instruction as war approaches. Here he introduces a framework of eight virtues connected with the good and with the pursuit of righteousness, preparing the listener for more detailed ethical guidance.