Shloka 69
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
जीर्णमन्नं प्रशंसन्ति भार्या च गतयौवनाम् । शूरं विजितसंग्रामं गतपारं तपस्विनम्,सज्जन पुरुष पच जानेपर अन्नकी, (निष्कलंक) यौवन बीत जानेपर स्त्रीकी, संग्राम जीत लेनेपर शूरकी और संसारसागरको पार कर लेनेपर तपस्वीकी प्रशंसा करते हैं
jīrṇam annaṁ praśaṁsanti bhāryāṁ ca gatayauvanām | śūraṁ vijitasaṅgrāmaṁ gatapāraṁ tapasvinam ||
Vidura memerhati satu pola duniawi: manusia memuji makanan hanya apabila ia sudah basi; memuji isteri hanya setelah usia mudanya berlalu; memuji pahlawan hanya setelah perangnya dimenangi; dan memuji pertapa hanya setelah ia menyeberang ke ‘seberang sana’—yakni menyempurnakan perjalanan getir kehidupan dan disiplin. Sengat etika di sini ialah masyarakat sering menangguhkan penghormatan hingga kegunaan, kecantikan, atau perjuangan seseorang sudah berlalu—pujian datang lewat, ketika tidak lagi berharga, bukannya pengiktirafan tepat pada waktunya yang menyokong dharma pada masa kini.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes delayed appreciation: people often praise only after value has faded or the struggle is already over. Vidura implies that true dharmic conduct is to recognize and honor merit, effort, and virtue in time—when encouragement and respect can actually support right action.
In Vidura’s counsel (vidura-nīti) within the Udyoga Parva, he offers sharp observations about human behavior and courtly society. Here he lists examples—stale food, an aged wife, a battle-worn victor, and an ascetic who has ‘crossed over’—to show how praise is commonly postponed until it is safe, conventional, or costless.