Shloka 80
सुवर्णस्य मल॑ रूप्यं रूप्यस्यापि मल त्रपु । ज्ञेयं त्रपुमलं सीसं सीसस्यापि मलं मलम्,सोनेका मल है चाँदी, चाँदीका मल है राँगा, राँगेका मल है सीसा और सीसेका भी मल है मैलापन
suvarṇasya malaṁ rūpyaṁ rūpyasyāpi malaṁ trapu | jñeyaṁ trapumalaṁ sīsaṁ sīsasyāpi malaṁ malam ||
มลทินของทองคือเงิน; มลทินของเงินก็คือดีบุก. พึงรู้ว่ามลทินของดีบุกคือตะกั่ว; และตะกั่วเองก็ยังมีมลทิน—คือความสกปรกล้วนๆ.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura uses metallurgy as an ethical metaphor: each ‘precious’ thing can be the dross of something higher, and the sequence ends in sheer filth. The lesson is to cultivate inner purity and discernment rather than chasing external value, because unchecked attachment and degradation lead from refinement to baseness.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers counsel (Vidura-nīti) amid rising tensions before the Kurukṣetra war. This verse is part of his moral instruction, using a vivid example to warn against decline in values and to urge clarity about what is truly worthy.