Shloka 8
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
समृद्धा गुणतः: केचिद् भवन्ति धनतो<परे । धनवृद्धान् गुणैहीनान् धृतराष्ट्र विवर्जय,धृतराष्ट्र! कुछ लोग गुणसे समृद्ध होते हैं और कुछ लोग धनसे। जो धनके धनी होते हुए भी गुणोंसे हीन हैं, उन्हें सर्वथा त्याग दीजिये
samṛddhā guṇataḥ kecid bhavanti dhanato 'pare | dhanavṛddhān guṇaihīnān dhṛtarāṣṭra vivarjaya ||
Vidura berkata: “Ada orang menjadi makmur kerana kebajikan, dan ada pula yang makmur kerana harta. Wahai Dhṛtarāṣṭra, tinggalkanlah sama sekali mereka yang kaya harta namun miskin sifat-sifat mulia.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True worth is measured by guṇa (virtue and character), not merely by dhana (wealth). A ruler should not favor or keep close those who are wealthy but lack moral qualities, because such association corrupts governance and dharma.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura addresses King Dhṛtarāṣṭra with ethical guidance, urging him to discriminate in whom he supports and associates with—specifically to reject wealthy yet unprincipled persons.