Shloka 20
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरनीतिः (Adhyāya 37): आयुःक्षयहेतवः, नीतिसूत्राणि, बलभेदाः, पाण्डव-विग्रहदोषदर्शनम्
अमात्ये हार्थलिप्सा च मन्त्ररक्षणमेव च । कृतानि सर्वकार्याणि यस्य पारिषदा विदु:
amātye hārthalipsā ca mantrarakṣaṇam eva ca | kṛtāni sarvakāryāṇi yasya pāriṣadā viduḥ ||
Vidura berkata: Jika pada seorang menteri tiada ketamakan terhadap harta, dan padanya juga ada penjagaan rahsia musyawarah, maka para penasihat memahami bahawa segala urusan telah seakan-akan selesai. Pengajarannya: kejayaan pemerintah bertumpu pada menteri yang tidak dapat dibeli dan pada disiplin menjaga dasar rahsia negara.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kingdom’s work succeeds when ministers are free from greed and when counsel is kept confidential; integrity and secrecy in policy-making are foundational to effective and righteous governance.
Vidura is delivering niti (practical-ethical counsel) in the Udyoga Parva, describing the qualities by which advisers recognize a capable ruler/administration—especially the presence of an uncorrupt minister and the safeguarding of political deliberations.