Shloka 2
Tilottamā, Sunda–Upasunda, and the Pāṇḍava Samaya (Ādi Parva 204)
प्रियं हितं च तद् वाक्यमुक्तवान् कुरुसत्तम: । भीष्म: शांतनवो राजन प्रतिगृह्नासि तन्न च,राजन! कुरुश्रेष्ठ शंतनुनन्दन भीष्मने आपसे प्रिय और हितकी बात कही है; परंतु आप उसे ग्रहण नहीं कर रहे हैं। इसी प्रकार आचार्य द्रोणने अनेक प्रकारसे आपके लिये उत्तम हितकी बात बतायी है; किंतु राधानन्दन कर्ण उसे आपके लिये हितकर नहीं मानते
priyaṃ hitaṃ ca tad vākyaṃ muktavān kurusattamaḥ | bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo rājan pratigṛhṇāsi tan na ca ||
Vidura nói: “Tâu Đại vương, Bhīṣma—con của Śāntanu, bậc tối thượng trong dòng Kuru—đã nói những lời vừa êm tai vừa thật sự lợi ích. Thế nhưng bệ hạ lại không tiếp nhận.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True counsel often combines what is pleasant (priya) with what is beneficial (hita). A ruler’s ethical failure is shown not merely by hearing wise advice, but by refusing to accept and act upon it—especially when it comes from elders like Bhīṣma.
Vidura addresses the king and reproaches him for ignoring Bhīṣma’s well-meant advice. The verse highlights a courtly situation where sound guidance is available, yet the king’s disposition prevents him from receiving it.