Shloka 45
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
एक॑ विषरसो हन्ति शस्त्रेणैकश्न वध्यते । सराष्ट्रं सप्रजं हन्ति राजानं मन्त्रविप्लव:,विषका रस एक (पीनेवाले)-को ही मारता है, शस्त्रसे एकका ही वध होता है; किंतु (गुप्त) मन्त्रणाका प्रकाशित होना राष्ट्र और प्रजाके साथ ही राजाका भी विनाश कर डालता है
ekaḥ viṣarasaḥ hanti śastreṇaikaś ca vadhyate | sa-rāṣṭraṃ sa-prajaṃ hanti rājānaṃ mantraviplavaḥ ||
Vidura berkata: Racun hanya membunuh orang yang meminumnya, dan senjata hanya menewaskan seorang. Tetapi kebocoran atau pengkhianatan terhadap musyawarah rahsia akan membinasakan raja, bersama negeri dan rakyatnya.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the breach or corruption of confidential counsel in governance is more destructive than individual acts of violence: it can ruin the king, destabilize the state, and harm the entire populace. Therefore, discretion, trustworthy advisers, and disciplined speech are essential to dharmic rule.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers moral and political counsel (Vidura-nīti) amid escalating tensions leading to war. Here he warns about the catastrophic consequences of leaked or subverted strategy—contrasting it with the limited harm caused by poison or weapons to a single person.