Shloka 8
अध्याय ३९: विदुरेण धृतराष्ट्राय नीत्युपदेशः
Timely Counsel, Association, and Kin-Duty
आशा धुृतिं हन्ति समृद्धिमन्तकः क्रोध: श्रियं हन्ति यश: कदर्यता । अपालन हन्ति पशुूंश्व राज- न्नेकः क्रुद्धो ब्राह्मणो हन्ति राष्ट्रम्ू,आशा धैर्यको, यमराज समृद्धिको, क्रोध लक्ष्मीको, कृपणता यशको और सार- सँभालका अभाव पशुओंको नष्ट कर देता है, परंतु राजन! ब्राह्मण यदि अकेला ही क्रुद्ध हो जाय तो सम्पूर्ण राष्ट्रका नाश कर देता है
āśā dhṛtiṃ hanti samṛddhim antakaḥ, krodhaḥ śriyaṃ hanti yaśaḥ kadarjatā | apālanaṃ hanti paśūṃś ca rājan, ekaḥ kruddho brāhmaṇo hanti rāṣṭram ||
Vidura adverte o rei: “A esperança, quando se torna cobiça, mata a firmeza; a Morte põe fim a toda prosperidade acumulada; a ira destrói a fortuna; a mesquinhez corrói a fama; e a falta de cuidado arruína o gado. Contudo, ó Rei, há uma verdade mais aguda: se até mesmo um único brāhmaṇa se enfurece, sua cólera, como uma maldição, pode levar um reino inteiro à ruína.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Personal vices and negligence undermine both character and statecraft: craving erodes steadiness, anger destroys fortune, meanness ruins reputation, and neglect wastes resources; therefore a ruler must cultivate restraint and careful protection. The verse also stresses that disrespecting or provoking moral-spiritual authority (symbolized by an enraged brāhmaṇa) can have catastrophic consequences for the whole realm.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura is counseling the king during a tense political moment before the great war. He delivers Nīti-style admonitions, warning that internal failings and rash conduct—especially anger and disregard for dharma—can destroy a kingdom more decisively than open conflict.