Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
वृत्ततस्त्वविहीनानि कुलान्यल्पधनान्यपि । कुलसंख्यां च गच्छन्ति कर्षन्ति च महद् यश:,थोड़े धनवाले कुल भी यदि सदाचारसे सम्पन्न हैं तो वे अच्छे कुलोंकी गणनामें आ जाते हैं और महान् यश प्राप्त करते हैं
vṛttatas tv avihīnāni kulāny alpadhanāny api | kulasaṅkhyāṃ ca gacchanti karṣanti ca mahad yaśaḥ ||
维杜罗教诲道:“即便家资浅薄的家族,只要不缺正行,也会被列入高贵族系之中,并为自己招来盛名。财富居其次;品格才是抬举一家、保全其长久声誉之本。”
विदुर उवाच
Nobility is grounded in ethical conduct (vṛtta), not in wealth. Even a poor family becomes esteemed and gains lasting fame if it maintains good behavior and moral discipline.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Vidura is instructing on statecraft and righteousness (nīti-dharma), emphasizing to the listener that social honor and enduring reputation arise from virtuous conduct rather than material prosperity.