Shloka 61
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
तस्मात् पापं न कुर्वीत पुरुष: शंसितव्रत: । पापं प्रज्ञां नाशयति क्रियमाणं पुन: पुन:,इसलिये प्रशंसित व्रतका आचरण करनेवाले पुरुषको पाप नहीं करना चाहिये; क्योंकि बारंबार किया हुआ पाप बुद्धिको नष्ट कर देता है
tasmāt pāpaṁ na kurvīta puruṣaḥ śaṁsitavrataḥ | pāpaṁ prajñāṁ nāśayati kriyamāṇaṁ punaḥ punaḥ ||
Vì thế, người giữ những lời nguyện đáng khen không nên phạm tội; bởi tội lỗi, khi lặp đi lặp lại, sẽ hủy hoại trí phân biệt.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Repeated wrongdoing does not merely add guilt; it corrodes prajñā (discernment). Therefore, one committed to a praiseworthy discipline should avoid pāpa altogether, since the loss of judgment leads to further adharma.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral counsel (Vidura-nīti) during the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he admonishes the listener to refrain from sinful acts, emphasizing their cumulative effect on the mind and ethical clarity.