Shloka 79
मलं पृथिव्या बाह्लीका: पुरुषस्यानृतं मलम् । कौतूहलमला साध्वी विप्रवासमला: स्त्रिय:,अभ्यास न करना वेदोंका मल है; ब्राह्मगोचित नियमोंका पालन न करना ब्राह्मणका मल है, बाह्नलीकदेश (बलखबुखारा) पृथ्वीका मल है तथा झूठ बोलना पुरुषका मल है, क्रीड़ा एवं हास-परिहासकी उत्सुकता पतिव्रता स्त्रीका मल है और पतिके बिना परदेशमें रहना स्त्रीमात्रका मल है
malaṁ pṛthivyā bāhlīkāḥ puruṣasyānṛtaṁ malam | kautūhalamalā sādhvī vipravāsamalāḥ striyaḥ ||
ପୃଥିବୀର ମଳ ବାହ୍ଲୀକମାନେ; ପୁରୁଷର ମଳ ଅସତ୍ୟ। ପତିବ୍ରତା ସାଧ୍ବୀ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀର ମଳ କୌତୁହଳ ଓ କ୍ରୀଡା-ପରିହାସର ଆସକ୍ତି; ଏବଂ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କର ମଳ ପତି ବିନା ପରଦେଶରେ ବସିବା ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଇଛି।
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘mala’ as moral and social blemish: untruth is a man’s stain, and disciplined restraint is expected in household life—especially emphasizing chastity/steadfastness and avoidance of frivolous indulgence for a devoted wife. Overall it promotes integrity (satya) and self-control as supports of dharma.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers ethical counsel (nīti) amid the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he uses a proverbial list of ‘blemishes’ to admonish conduct and highlight virtues needed for social order and righteous decision-making.