Shloka 75
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
अतिकक्लेशेन ये<र्था: स्युर्धर्मस्यातिक्रमेण वा । अरेवा प्रणिपातेन मा सम तेषु मन: कृथा:,जो धन अत्यन्त क्लेश उठानेसे, धर्मका उल्लंघन करनेसे अथवा शत्रुके सामने सिर झुकानेसे प्राप्त होता हो, उसमें आप मन न लगाइये
atikleśena ye 'rthāḥ syur dharmasyātikrameṇa vā | arevā praṇipātena mā sma teṣu manaḥ kṛthāḥ ||
Vidura nói: “Đừng đặt lòng vào những lợi lộc chỉ có được nhờ chịu khổ quá mức, nhờ vượt rào dharma, hoặc nhờ cúi đầu khuất phục trước kẻ thù. Lợi ấy không đáng để ham muốn, vì nó được mua bằng sự chính trực và lòng tự trọng.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura teaches that wealth or advantage is not worth pursuing if it requires extreme suffering, violation of dharma, or humiliating submission to an enemy. Ethical means and personal integrity are placed above material gain.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled context, Vidura addresses the royal side with moral and political instruction, warning against choices driven by greed—especially those that compromise righteousness or dignity in dealings with adversaries.