Shloka 79
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
मलं पृथिव्या बाह्लीका: पुरुषस्यानृतं मलम् । कौतूहलमला साध्वी विप्रवासमला: स्त्रिय:
malaṁ pṛthivyā bāhlīkāḥ puruṣasyānṛtaṁ malam | kautūhalamalā sādhvī vipravāsamalāḥ striyaḥ ||
زمین کا داغ باہلیکہ ہیں؛ مرد کا داغ جھوٹ ہے۔ پتिवرتا (وفادار) سادھوی عورت کے لیے فضول تجسس اور کھیل-تماشے کی رغبت داغ ہے؛ اور عورتوں کے لیے شوہر کے بغیر پردیس میں رہنا داغ کہا گیا ہے۔
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘mala’ as moral and social blemish: untruth is a man’s stain, and disciplined restraint is expected in household life—especially emphasizing chastity/steadfastness and avoidance of frivolous indulgence for a devoted wife. Overall it promotes integrity (satya) and self-control as supports of dharma.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura delivers ethical counsel (nīti) amid the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he uses a proverbial list of ‘blemishes’ to admonish conduct and highlight virtues needed for social order and righteous decision-making.