Shloka 17
अध्याय ३९: विदुरेण धृतराष्ट्राय नीत्युपदेशः
Timely Counsel, Association, and Kin-Duty
उत्सृज्य विनिवर्तन्ते ज्ञातय: सुहृद: सुता: । अपुष्पानफलान वृक्षान् यथा तात पतत्रिण:,तात! बिना फल-फूलके वृक्षको जैसे पक्षी छोड़ देते हैं, उसी प्रकार उस प्रेतको उसके जातिवाले, सुहृद् और पुत्र चितामें छोड़कर लौट आते हैं
utsṛjya vinivartante jñātayaḥ suhṛdaḥ sutāḥ | apuṣpān aphalān vṛkṣān yathā tāta patatriṇaḥ ||
Vidura berkata: “Kaum kerabat, sahabat, bahkan anak-anak pun meninggalkan si mati lalu berpaling pulang—seperti burung, wahai yang dikasihi, meninggalkan pohon yang tidak berbunga dan tidak berbuah.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly bonds—relatives, friends, even children—often prove conditional and withdraw at the moment of death; therefore one should cultivate dharma and inner steadiness rather than relying on social attachment for ultimate security.
Vidura is offering sober counsel, using a vivid simile: as birds do not stay on trees that give no flowers or fruit, people do not remain with the dead; they leave the body and return to their lives.