Shloka 45
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
प्राज्ञोपसेविन वैद्यं धार्मिकं प्रियदर्शनम् । मित्रवन्तं सुवाक्यं च सुहृदं परिपालयेत्
prājñopasevinaṃ vaidyaṃ dhārmikaṃ priyadarśanam | mitravantaṃ suvākyaṃ ca suhṛdaṃ paripālayet ||
Disse Vidura: Deve-se proteger e amparar com todo cuidado o amigo bem-intencionado—aquele que convive com os sábios, é hábil como um médico, vive segundo o dharma, é agradável à vista, rico em amizades e fala com doçura e propriedade. Tal pessoa é salvaguarda do bem-estar e deve ser preservada com todo esforço.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Value and protect a genuine well-wisher: a person who associates with the wise, is competent (like a healer), righteous, pleasant in conduct, socially supported, and speaks beneficially. Such a friend strengthens one’s moral and practical welfare.
In Vidura’s counsel within the Udyoga Parva, he outlines qualities of a trustworthy ally and advises that such a suhr̥d should be safeguarded—framing friendship as an ethical and strategic asset during tense political circumstances.