Shloka 16
Udyoga Parva Adhyaya 62 — Duryodhana’s Claim of Victory and Vidura’s Allegories on Discord and Risk
कामो लोभश्व दर्पश्न मन्युर्निद्रा विकत्थनम् । मान ईर्ष्या च शोकश्न नैतद् दान्तो निषेवते । अजिदट्दममशठं शुद्धमेतद् दान्तस्य लक्षणम्
kāmo lobhaś ca darpaś ca manyur nidrā vikatthanam | māna īrṣyā ca śokaś ca naitad dānto niṣevate || ajihmaṃ damaṃ aśaṭhaṃ śuddham etad dāntasya lakṣaṇam ||
विदुर उवाच— कामो लोभश्च दर्पश्च मन्युर्निद्रा विकत्थनम् । मान ईर्ष्या च शोकश्च नैतद् दान्तो निषेवते ॥ अजिह्वोऽदममशठः शुद्धमेतद् दान्तस्य लक्षणम् ॥
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura defines the character of a dānta (self-controlled) person by two sides: (1) avoidance of inner enemies—desire, greed, pride, anger, slothful sleep, boastfulness, status-craving, envy, and grief; and (2) cultivation of positive traits—straightforwardness, disciplined restraint, freedom from deceit, and inner purity.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral and political counsel during the tense pre-war negotiations. This verse is part of his ethical instruction, describing the qualities that make a person fit for wise conduct and stable judgment amid conflict.