विदुर उवाच
राजन् बहुमतश् चासि त्रैलोक्यस्यापि सत्तमः ॥
संभावितश् च लोकस्य संमतश् चासि भारत ॥
यत् त्वम् एवंगते ब्रूयाः पश्चिमे वयसि स्थितः ॥
शास्त्राद् वा सुप्रतर्काद् वा सुस्थिरः स्थविरो ह्य् असि ॥
लेखाश्मनीव भाः सूर्ये महोर्मिर् इव सागरे ॥
धर्मस् त्वयि महान् राजन्न् इति व्यवसिताः प्रजाः ॥
सदैव भावितो लोको गुणौघैस् तव पार्थिव ॥
गुणानां रक्षणे नित्यं प्रयतस्व सबान्धवः ॥
आर्जवं प्रतिपद्यस्व मा बाल्याद् बहुधा नशीः ॥
राज्यं पुत्रांश् च पौत्रांश् च सुहृदश् चापि सुप्रियान् ॥
vidura uvāca
rājan bahumataś cāsi trailokyasyāpi sattamaḥ ||
saṃbhāvitaś ca lokasya saṃmataś cāsi bhārata ||
yat tvam evaṃgate brūyāḥ paścime vayasi sthitaḥ ||
śāstrād vā supratarkād vā susthiraḥ sthaviro hy asi ||
lekhāśmanīva bhāḥ sūrye mahormir iva sāgare ||
dharmas tvayi mahān rājann iti vyavasitāḥ prajāḥ ||
sadaiva bhāvito loko guṇaughais tava pārthiva ||
guṇānāṃ rakṣaṇe nityaṃ prayatasva sabāndhavaḥ ||
ārjavaṃ pratipadyasva mā bālyād bahudhā naśīḥ ||
rājyaṃ putrāṃś ca pautrāṃś ca suhṛdaś cāpi supriyān ||
Vaishampayana said: 'Meanwhile, learning from his spies that the slayer of Madhu had set out on his journey, Dhritarashtra, his hair standing on end, respectfully addressed the mighty-armed Bhishma, Drona, Sanjaya, and the illustrious Vidura, and spoke these words to Duryodhana and his counselors: "O descendant of the Kuru race, strange and wondrous is the news we hear. Men, women, and children speak of it. Others speak of it with reverence, while yet others gather together again. In the houses where people assemble, and in the open places, people discuss it. All say that Dasharha, possessed of great valor, will come here for the sake of the Pandavas, and that he deserves honor and worship at our hands, whatever the outcome."'
529036eb882e · published Jul 17, 2026, 5:02:04 AM UTC
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This passage (5.85.1-5) develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace unfolds already against the backdrop of an inevitable war. Key themes: Vidura, dharma. Here dharma reveals itself through speech, the choice of the embassy, fidelity to one's word, and the responsibility of kings for the consequences of their decisions.