Shloka 6
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
न वृद्धिर्बहु मन्तव्या या वृद्धि: क्षयमावहेत् । क्षयोडपि बहु मन्तव्यो य: क्षयो वृद्धिमावहेत्
na vṛddhir bahu mantavyā yā vṛddhiḥ kṣayam āvahet | kṣayo 'pi bahu mantavyo yaḥ kṣayo vṛddhim āvahet ||
Janganlah disangka setiap pertambahan itu patut dipuja, jika pertambahan itu membawa kebinasaan. Bahkan suatu kehilangan pun patut diterima, jika kehilangan itu menjadi sebab kepada pertumbuhan dan kesejahteraan.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Evaluate outcomes, not appearances: prosperity is not truly desirable if it culminates in destruction, while a setback can be valuable if it becomes the means to lasting welfare and future prosperity.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers counsel grounded in dharma and practical wisdom, warning against short-sighted choices and urging discernment about what kind of ‘gain’ or ‘loss’ should be accepted in the tense lead-up to conflict.