Shloka 72
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
ऋषीणां च नदीनां च कुलानां च महात्मनाम् | प्रभवो नाधिगन्तव्यः स्त्रीणां दुश्नरितस्थ च,ऋषि, नदी, वंश एवं महात्माओंका तथा स्त्रियोंके दुश्चरित्रका उत्पत्तिस्थान नहीं जाना जा सकता
ṛṣīṇāṃ ca nadīnāṃ ca kulānāṃ ca mahātmanām | prabhavo nādhigantavyaḥ strīṇāṃ duścaritasya ca ||
Vidura berkata: asal-usul yang sebenar tidak dapat ditelusuri—sama ada asal para resi, sungai-sungai, keturunan mulia, atau insan berjiwa agung; demikian juga punca sebenar salah laku seorang wanita tidak dapat dipastikan. Inti etikanya ialah amaran agar tidak terobsesi mencari permulaan dan menyalahkan; hendaklah menahan diri dalam penilaian dan tutur kata, serta menumpukan perhatian pada perilaku kini dan dharma.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not obsess over tracing origins or assigning ultimate blame in matters whose beginnings are inherently unknowable; focus instead on present conduct, self-restraint, and dharmic action.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers counsel (nīti) amid rising tensions before the war, giving aphoristic guidance on ethics and prudent judgment; here he cautions against futile or harmful inquiries into origins and character.