Shloka 17
Saṃsāra-gahana-jñāna: Vidura’s Account of Embodiment, Bondage, and Dharmic Release (संसारगहन-ज्ञानम्)
विशेषं न प्रपश्यन्ति तत्र तेषां परे जना: । येन प्रत्यवगच्छेयु: कुलरूपविशेषणम्
viśeṣaṃ na prapaśyanti tatra teṣāṃ pare janāḥ | yena pratyavagaccheyuḥ kularūpaviśeṣaṇam |
Orang luar di sana tidak melihat sebarang tanda yang membezakan mereka—yang dengannya dapat dikenal pasti keturunan sesuatu keluarga atau rupa istimewa seseorang. Rangkap ini menegaskan bahawa sesudah bencana, penanda sosial dan perbezaan warisan menjadi kabur; ia mengingatkan agar tidak sombong pada darjat, dan menyeru penilaian berasaskan perilaku, bukan semata-mata rupa atau kelahiran.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
External observers cannot reliably identify a person’s lineage or distinctive status by outward marks alone, especially amid upheaval; therefore one should not cling to pride of birth or appearance, and should ground judgment in character and conduct (ācāra) rather than superficial identifiers.
In Strī Parva’s lament-filled aftermath of the Kurukṣetra catastrophe, Vidura speaks in a reflective, admonitory tone, pointing out how devastation and disorder erase recognizable social distinctions, intensifying the sense of loss and challenging assumptions about status and identity.