Shloka 63
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
वृद्धप्रज्ञ: पुण्यमेव नित्यमारभते नर: । पुण्यं कुर्वन् पुण्यकीर्ति: पुण्यं स्थानं सम गच्छति । तस्मात् पुण्यं निषेवेत पुरुष: सुसमाहितः
vṛddhaprajñaḥ puṇyam eva nityam ārabhate naraḥ | puṇyaṃ kurvan puṇyakīrtiḥ puṇyaṃ sthānaṃ sa gacchati | tasmāt puṇyaṃ niṣeveta puruṣaḥ susamāhitaḥ ||
ผู้ที่ปัญญาเจริญงอกงามย่อมลงมือทำแต่บุญอยู่เสมอ เมื่อทำบุญก็ได้ชื่อเสียงแห่งความดี และไปถึงสถานะและปลายทางอันเป็นกุศล ฉะนั้นมนุษย์พึงตั้งจิตมั่นคงเป็นหนึ่ง แล้วคบหาบุญเท่านั้น
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ripened wisdom expresses itself as consistent commitment to puṇya (meritorious action). Such conduct yields both moral reputation (puṇyakīrti) and a wholesome destination (puṇya-sthāna). Hence one should deliberately cultivate merit with a steady, focused mind.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers ethical counsel amid the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he emphasizes that true intelligence is shown not by clever speech but by sustained virtuous action, urging disciplined pursuit of merit as the proper course.