Shloka 85
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
राजन भूयो ब्रवीमि त्वां पुत्रेषु सममाचर । समता यदि ते राजनू् स्वेषु पाण्डुसुतेषु वा,राजन! मैं फिर कहता हूँ, यदि आपका अपने पुत्रों और पाण्डवोंमें समानभाव है तो उन सभी पुत्रोंके साथ एक-सा बर्ताव कीजिये
rājan bhūyo bravīmi tvāṁ putreṣu samam ācara | samatā yadi te rājan sveṣu pāṇḍusuteṣu vā ||
O Hari, inuulit ko: kumilos ka nang pantay at makatarungan sa iyong mga anak. Kung tunay mong sinasabi na wala kang kinikilingan—maging sa sarili mong mga anak o sa mga anak ni Pāṇḍu—gawin mong iisa ang pakikitungo mo sa kanilang lahat. Ipinipilit ni Vidura ang aral na ang diumano’y pagiging neutral ng isang pinuno ay dapat patunayan sa makatarungan at palagiang gawa, hindi sa pagkiling ng damdamin.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must match words with deeds: if he claims impartiality between his own sons and the Pāṇḍavas, he must actually treat them equally in policy, judgment, and conduct. Ethical governance requires consistent fairness, not selective affection.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Vidura counsels Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He urges the king to abandon partiality toward the Kauravas and to act with equal justice toward both sides, warning implicitly that biased conduct will fuel conflict.