Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 7
Vidura Leaves Hastināpura and Meets Uddhava
Vidura’s Tīrtha-yātrā Begins
यदा सभायां कुरुदेवदेव्या: केशाभिमर्शं सुतकर्म गर्ह्यम् । न वारयामास नृप: स्नुषाया: स्वास्रैर्हरन्त्या: कुचकुङ्कुमानि ॥ ७ ॥
yadā sabhāyāṁ kuru-deva-devyāḥ keśābhimarśaṁ suta-karma garhyam na vārayām āsa nṛpaḥ snuṣāyāḥ svāsrair harantyāḥ kuca-kuṅkumāni
当在会堂中，杜沙萨那做出卑劣之举，抓扯德劳帕蒂——虔德之王尤提士提罗之妻、库鲁族的圣后——的头发时，国王竟未加制止；她的泪水正冲洗着胸前的红色朱砂。
FAQs
This verse recalls the condemnable act of seizing Draupadī’s hair in the assembly and highlights the moral collapse when the king failed to restrain the offenders, showing how adharma spreads when leaders remain silent.
He is criticized because, as the king and elder of the Kuru court, he did not stop the outrage against his own daughter-in-law, revealing attachment and weakness that enabled injustice.
The verse teaches that witnessing wrongdoing without intervening—especially by those with authority—makes one complicit; dharma requires timely protection of the vulnerable and speaking up against injustice.