Vidura Teaches Dhritarashtra on Wisdom and Conduct

Vidura said: "One who does not serve that which is censured, is praised. He is not an atheist and has faith. These are the signs of one who is learned. One who does not deviate from his objective because of anger, joy, pride, false modesty and a false sense of vanity, is regarded as learned. One whose planned deeds and counsel are not known to others, but are known only after the tasks have been executed, is regarded as learned. He whose deeds are not obstructed by cold and heat, fear and affection, prosperity and adversity, is regarded as learned. One who wisely follows dharma and artha, and artha over kama for the sake of the hereafter, is regarded as learned. They exert to the best of their ability. They act to the best of their ability. They disregard nothing. O bull among the Bharata lineage! Such men are regarded as learned. "He learns quickly. He listens patiently. He pursues the objective because of artha, not because of kama. If not asked, he does not dabble in the affairs of others. These are the first signs of a wise and learned one. They do not hanker after the unobtainable. They do not sorrow over what has been lost. They are not deluded in times of adversity. Such men are regarded as learned. He decides on a course of action and does not stop before the task has been accomplished. He does not waste time and is in control of his soul. Such a man is regarded as learned. They are attracted towards the tasks of aryas. They perform tasks that bring prosperity. They do not disregard that which ensures welfare. O bull among the Bharata lineage! Such ones are learned. He is not overjoyed because of honours. He is not tormented because of neglect. He is as undisturbed as a pond near the Ganga. Such a person is regarded as learned. He knows about the nature of all beings. He is familiar with the nature of all deeds. He knows the nature of men. Such a man is regarded as learned. He is skilled in words. He can talk about diverse subjects. He is quick to understand and possesses intellect. He can quickly explain what is in the texts. Such a man is regarded as learned. His wisdom facilitates his learning. His learning facilitates his wisdom. He does not transgress the norms laid down for aryas. Such a person obtains the appellation of a learned one. "If one is not learned and vain, if one is poor and proud, if one strives for artha without performing deeds, the learned regard such persons as stupid. He gives up his own objectives and tends to the objectives of others. He resorts to falsehood for the sake of his friends. Such a person is regarded as stupid. He desires that which should not be desired. He gives up those that should be desired. He hates those who are stronger. Such a person is stupid in intelligence. He acts like a friend towards an enemy. He hates and harms those who are friends. He postpones tasks that should be performed. He procrastinates in every way. He takes a long time over something that should be done fast. O bull among the Bharata lineage! Such a person is stupid. He enters when he is not invited. He speaks a lot, even though he has not been asked. He trusts those who should not be trusted. He is worst among men and is stupid in his intelligence. Though he is the one who should be blamed, he is quick to blame others. He is angered, though he has no powers. Such a person is regarded as the most stupid among men. He ignores his own strength. He gives up dharma and artha. He wishes to obtain that which is unattainable, but without performing tasks. He is said to be stupid in his intelligence. O king! He instructs those who are not his pupils. He serves those who are hollow. He honours those who are ignoble. Such a person is known as stupid in intelligence. However, one who has obtained a great deal of riches, learning and power, and yet roams around without any show of pride, he is said to be learned. "Who can be crueller than one who eats, lives and dons expensive garments alone, without sharing them with his servants? One person performs evil deeds, but the fruits are borne by many. Others enjoy, while the doer alone is blamed. A single arrow released by an archer may kill, or it may not kill. But when an intelligent person uses his intelligence, it can destroy a kingdom, together with its king. "Having differentiated between the two with the use of the one, bring the three under your control by using the four. Conquer the five. Know the six. Stay away from the seven and be happy. Poison kills one. Only one is killed with a weapon. But the disclosure of counsel destroys a kingdom and a king, with the subjects. One should not eat tasty food alone. One should not think only about one's own objectives. One should not travel alone. One should not be awake alone, when the others are asleep. There is one without a second. O king! You have not been able to comprehend Him. He is the truth. He is the staircase to heaven. He is like a boat in the ocean. Those who are forgiving have one taint, and there is not a second one to be seen. People think that a forgiving one is incapable. There is one dharma that is supreme. Forgiveness alone brings supreme peace. Learning brings supreme satisfaction. Non-violence takes one to happiness. "The earth destroys two, like a snake destroys those who live in holes — a king who is not aggressive, and a brahmana who has not dwelt away from home. Through two deeds, a man can be radiant in this world — by not speaking harsh words and by not requesting dishonourable ones. O tiger among men! There are two kinds of people who trust others — women who desire those who are desired, and people who honour those who are honoured. There are two sharp thorns that dry up the body — desire on the part of those who are poor, and anger on the part of those who are powerless. O king! There are two kinds of men who are established above heaven — powerful ones who are forgiving, and generous ones who are poor. There are two kinds of abuse of property that has been acquired through rightful means — giving it to those who are unworthy, and not giving it to those who are worthy. "O bull among the Bharata lineage! It has been heard that there are three courses of action for men — inferior, medium and superior. This is known to those who are learned in the Vedas. O king! There are three kinds of men — inferior, medium and superior. They should accordingly be employed in three different kinds of duties. O king! There are three who cannot own property — a wife, a slave and a son. Whatever riches they obtain, belongs to the one who owns them. "Those who are learned have said that a greatly strong king should avoid consultations with four — those who have limited intelligence, those who procrastinate, those who are lazy and those who are flatterers. O father! You have been blessed with fortune. While you are following the dharma of a householder, four kinds of people should dwell in your house — a relative who is aged, one who is born from a noble lineage but is in distress, a friend who is poor and a sister who does not have offspring. O great king! When he was asked by Indra of the thirty gods, Brihaspati said that four things bear instant fruit. Listen to them — the resolution of the gods, the intellect of the wise, the humility of the learned and the destruction of those who perform evil deeds. "O bull among the Bharata lineage! Men must carefully tend to five fires — the father, the mother, the fire, one's own self and the preceptor. Through worshipping five, one obtains fame in this world — gods, ancestors, men, mendicants and guests. There are five who follow, wherever you go — friends, enemies, those who are neutral, those you live on and those who are supported by you. On earth, if there is a hole in any of the five senses, it is like wisdom draining out from the bottom of a water pot. "A man who desires prosperity must avoid six vices — sleep, drowsiness, fear, anger, laziness and procrastination."