Shloka 12
Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)
कामलोभाभिभूतस्य मन्दस्य प्राज्ञमानिन: । अप्रियं हृदये महां तन्न तिष्ठति केशव
kāmalobhābhibhūtasya mandasya prājñamāninaḥ | apriyaṃ hṛdaye mahāṃ tan na tiṣṭhati keśava ||
யுதிஷ்டிரன் கூறினான்— ஹே கேசவா! ஆசையும் பேராசையும் ஆட்கொண்டவன், மந்த புத்தியுடையவன், தன்னை ஞானி என எண்ணுபவன்—அவனுடைய உள்ளத்தில் பெரியதாயினும் இனிமையற்ற உண்மை நிலைத்திருக்காது.
युधिष्टिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A mind ruled by desire and greed becomes dull and defensive; even if a person claims wisdom, he cannot retain harsh but beneficial counsel. Ethical insight requires self-restraint and humility, otherwise truth is rejected as ‘unpleasant’ and quickly displaced.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) while reflecting on why certain people—especially those driven by craving and avarice—do not accept or keep to difficult advice, even when it is for their own good.