Shloka 21
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
युधन्वोवाच पितरं ते गमिष्याव: प्राणयोर्विपणे कृते । पुत्रस्यापि स हेतोहिं प्रह्ादो नानृतं वदेत्
Sudhanvovāca: pitaram te gamiṣyāvaḥ prāṇayor vipaṇe kṛte | putrasyāpi sa hetoḥ hi Prahlādo nānṛtaṁ vadet ||
สุธันวากล่าวว่า “เมื่อเอาชีวิตเป็นเดิมพันแล้ว เราทั้งสองจักไปหาบิดาของท่าน เพราะปรหลาท แม้เพื่อบุตรของตนเอง ก็จะไม่กล่าวคำเท็จ”
विरोचन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness is presented as an uncompromising ethical ideal: Prahlāda’s integrity is so firm that he would not utter falsehood even to save his own son’s life.
In a dispute where life itself has been set as the stake, Sudhanvan proposes that both parties go to Virocana’s father, Prahlāda, trusting that Prahlāda will judge or testify truthfully without bias.