Shloka 16
अध्याय ६४ — सभामध्ये क्रोध-निवारणम्
Restraint of wrath in the royal assembly
लभ्यते खलु पापीयान् नरो नु प्रियवागिह । अप्रियस्य हि पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभ:
labhyate khalu pāpīyān naro nu priyavāg iha | apriyasya hi pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ ||
Sa daigdig na ito, tiyak na may masusumpungan kahit isang lubhang makasalanang taong pawang salitang nakalulugod ang sinasabi. Ngunit ang taong magsasabi ng kapaki-pakinabang kahit masakit pakinggan, at ang taong makikinig sa kapaki-pakinabang kahit masakit pakinggan—kapwa sila bihira.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical speech is not measured by how pleasant it sounds but by whether it is truly beneficial (pathya). People who flatter are easy to find, but those who can speak hard truths for another’s good—and those mature enough to accept them—are rare.
In the Sabha Parva’s courtly setting, Vidura offers moral counsel, contrasting flattering, pleasing speech with the difficult duty of giving and receiving corrective, welfare-oriented advice—an important standard for rulers and assemblies.