एक: स्वादु न भुज्जीत एकश्चार्थान् न चिन्तयेत् । एको न गच्छेदध्वानं नैक: सुप्तेषु जागूयात्,अकेले स्वादिष्ट भोजन न करे, अकेला किसी विषयका निश्चय न करे, अकेला रास्ता न चले और बहुत-से लोग सोये हों तो उनमें अकेला न जागता रहे
ekaḥ svādu na bhuñjīta ekaś cārthān na cintayet | eko na gacched adhvānaṃ naikaḥ supteṣu jāgūyāt ||
Vidura menasihati: Jangan menikmati makanan lazat seorang diri; jangan memutuskan perkara besar seorang diri; jangan menempuh perjalanan seorang diri; dan apabila ramai orang tidur, jangan engkau seorang sahaja berjaga.
विदुर उवाच
Avoid solitary situations that increase risk or invite wrongdoing: do not indulge alone, do not decide weighty matters alone, do not travel alone, and do not be the only one awake among sleepers. Seek companionship/witnesses, shared counsel, and safer circumstances.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers counsel (nīti) during the tense pre-war negotiations and political maneuvering. This verse is part of his practical guidance on how a wise person should behave to remain safe, above suspicion, and ethically steady.