Shloka 8
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
केशिन्युवाच किं ब्राह्मणा: स्विच्छेयांसो दितिजा: स्विद् विरोचन । अथ केन सम पर्यड्कं सुधन््वा नाधिरोहति
keśiny uvāca kiṁ brāhmaṇāḥ svic chreyāṁso ditijāḥ svid virocana | atha kena sama paryaṅkaṁ sudhanvā nādhirohati ||
Кешини сказала: «Вирочана, кто поистине выше — брахманы или дайтьи, рождённые от Дити? Если брахманы выше, то почему брахман Судханван не может взойти на то же ложе, что и ты? Иначе говоря, почему мне не избрать Судханвана своим супругом?»
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes the ethical basis of social superiority: if Brahminhood is acknowledged as higher due to learning and dharma, then denying a worthy Brahmin equal honor is inconsistent. It highlights that status claims must align with conduct and fairness.
Keśinī challenges Virocana with a pointed question about who is superior—Brahmins or Daityas—and uses the issue of seating/bed honor (the shared couch) to argue that if Brahmins are superior, Sudhanvā should not be treated as inferior; she implies her preference to marry Sudhanvā.