Shloka 60
हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः
Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace
अग्निस्तेजो महल्लोके गूढस्तिष्ठति दारुषु । न चोपयुद्धक्ते तद् दारु यावन्नोद्दीप्यते परै:
agnis tejo mahalloke gūḍhas tiṣṭhati dāruṣu | na copayudhyate tad dāru yāvan noddīpyate paraiḥ ||
毗度罗说道：“火——世间强大的能量——潜藏于木中。然而木并不自燃；未被他人点燃之前，它不‘争斗’、不作为。亦如潜伏的力量或怒意，若不被挑动，便自能收敛；故莫做那点起毁灭之火的人。”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and anger can remain latent like fire hidden in wood; they become destructive only when kindled by external provocation. The ethical counsel is to avoid instigating, provoking, or fanning conflict, and to practice restraint so that latent hostility does not turn into open harm.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura offers moral and political counsel aimed at preventing escalation toward war. Using the metaphor of fire concealed in wood, he warns that destructive forces do not erupt without being ignited—implying that leaders should not provoke others or create conditions that kindle violence.