Shloka 46
Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition
एक: स्वादु न भुज्जीत एकश्चार्थान् न चिन्तयेत् । एको न गच्छेदध्वानं नैक: सुप्तेषु जागूयात्,अकेले स्वादिष्ट भोजन न करे, अकेला किसी विषयका निश्चय न करे, अकेला रास्ता न चले और बहुत-से लोग सोये हों तो उनमें अकेला न जागता रहे
ekaḥ svādu na bhuñjīta ekaś cārthān na cintayet | eko na gacched adhvānaṃ naikaḥ supteṣu jāgūyāt ||
اکیلا لذیذ کھانا نہ کھائے، اکیلا اہم معاملات پر غور نہ کرے، اکیلا راستہ نہ چلے، اور جب بہت سے لوگ سو رہے ہوں تو ان کے درمیان اکیلا جاگتا نہ رہے۔
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Avoid solitary situations that increase risk or invite wrongdoing: do not indulge alone, do not decide weighty matters alone, do not travel alone, and do not be the only one awake among sleepers. Seek companionship/witnesses, shared counsel, and safer circumstances.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers counsel (nīti) during the tense pre-war negotiations and political maneuvering. This verse is part of his practical guidance on how a wise person should behave to remain safe, above suspicion, and ethically steady.