उवाच तं सत्यधृतिः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥
अभिजानामि सौम्य त्वां सुहृदं विदुरस्य वै ॥
शुचिम् आप्तं प्रियं चैव सदा च दृढभक्तिकम् ॥
न विद्यते कवेः किं चिद् अभिज्ञानप्रयोजनम् ॥
यथा नः स तथा नस् त्वं निर्विशेषा वयं त्वयि ॥
भवतः स्म यथा तस्य पालयास्मान् यथा कविः ॥
uvāca taṃ satyadhṛtiḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
abhijānāmi saumya tvāṃ suhṛdaṃ vidurasya vai ||
śucim āptaṃ priyaṃ caiva sadā ca dṛḍhabhaktikam ||
na vidyate kaveḥ kiṃ cid abhijñānaprayojanam ||
yathā naḥ sa tathā nas tvaṃ nirviśeṣā vayaṃ tvayi ||
bhavataḥ sma yathā tasya pālayāsmān yathā kaviḥ ||
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, firm in truth, said to him: "I recognize you, O gentle one, as Vidura's friend -- pure, trusted, dear, and always firmly devoted; there is no need of any proof from the sage. As he is to us, so are you to us; we regard you without distinction; we are yours, as we are his -- protect us as the sage would."
1ba85115b27a · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:03:09 PM UTC
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Here Yudhishthira displays the nobility of trust. It is telling that, though a proof was offered, he says: "there is no need of proof" -- the righteous recognize goodness by its very spirit and do not demean a friend's messenger with suspicion. In this lies the purity of a trusting heart, which, being itself without guile, believes the worthy. Telling too is the extension of love: "as Vidura is to us, so are you" -- the Pandavas honor their friend's friend as the friend himself. Here it is shown that the love and trust of the righteous pass along a chain of affection: whoever is dear to one dear to us is dear to us as well. Thus the scripture shows how pure and generous is Yudhishthira's trust, answering faithfulness with faithfulness.