Mahabharata 4.4.31 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 4, Shloka 31
Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)
असूयन्ति हि राजानो नराननृतवादिन: । तथैव चावमन्यन्ते नरान् पण्डितमानिन:
asūyanti hi rājāno narān anṛtavādinaḥ | tathaiva cāvamanyante narān paṇḍitamāninaḥ ||
Sesungguhnya raja-raja akan menaruh benci kepada orang yang berkata dusta. Demikian juga mereka memandang hina orang yang hanya menyangka dirinya pandai. Nasihat ini menyiratkan bahawa di balairung istana hendaklah dijauhi kedua-duanya—pembohongan dan lagak bijaksana—kerana masing-masing mengundang kemurkaan raja dan meruntuhkan martabat diri.
धौग्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness and humility are essential in dealings with rulers: liars provoke a king’s resentment, and those who parade learning without genuine wisdom invite contempt.
Dhaumya is giving practical counsel about how one should conduct oneself in relation to kings and courts, warning against two behaviors—lying and self-important claims of scholarship—that lead to royal disfavor.
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