Vidura Advises Dhritarashtra on Righteous Kingship

Dhritarashtra could not sleep. The king of the Kurus, blind from birth, lay tormented in the dark — not by the absence of light, but by what he saw coming. He called for Vidura. "What should a tormented and sleepless person do?" he asked. "Tell me what you think is the right course of action. Among us, you are skilled in knowledge of dharma and artha. Instruct me. Use your wisdom to tell me what is best for Ajatashatru — Yudhishthira — and what is best for the Kurus. I am anxious about evil and can foresee evil. Tell me completely and truthfully what Yudhishthira desires." Vidura did not hesitate. He had been waiting for this question. "Even if one is not asked," he said, "one should speak to one whom one does not wish to see defeated — be it good or bad, hateful or pleasant. Since I desire the welfare of the Kurus, I will tell you. I will speak words that ensure welfare and are in accordance with dharma. Listen." He began with the foundation: do not set your mind on deeds that can only be attained through falsehood. A deed undertaken correctly through appropriate means may still fail — a learned man does not distress his mind over that. But a deed must be examined, its consequences weighed, one's own capacity measured. An act should not be undertaken in haste. "If a king does not know about the expanse of his kingdom, about how it can be extended, how it might decay, the treasury, population and punishments, his kingdom does not remain." Having obtained a kingdom, Vidura continued, one should not become haughty. Haughtiness destroys prosperity, just as old age destroys physical beauty. He offered an image: a greedy fish, seeing only appearances, swallows an iron hook concealed in a dainty morsel. It does not consider the consequences. One who desires prosperity should consider what can be swallowed, whether it can be digested, and whether it will ensure welfare if digested. "If one plucks fruits that are not ripe from a tree, one does not obtain any juice from them. But then again, the seed is destroyed. If one obtains right fruit at the right time, one obtains juice from the fruit, and again fruit from the seed." He spoke of how a king should take from his people: like bees that suck honey but protect the flowers. Flower can be collected after flower, but the root must not be severed. A king should be like the maker of a garland in a grove, not like a burner of charcoal. "Think about an intended action. 'How will I gain from it? How will I gain if I don't do it?' Having thought in this way, a man should decide whether to do something, or not do it." There are acts that should not be undertaken because the exertions spent on them will be fruitless. There are others that bring great gain with little effort. A wise man undertakes these swiftly and removes obstacles from them. "If a king looks at everything in a straightforward way, as if he is drinking it with his eyes, his subjects love him, even if he is seated immobile and silent. When one looks favourably at the world in four ways — through sight, thoughts, speed and deeds — the world also looks upon one favourably. But if beings are frightened of him, like deer fear the hunter, he may obtain the earth up to the frontiers of the ocean, but will still lose it." One may obtain the kingdom of fathers and grandfathers through one's own energy. But if one uses inappropriate deeds, one can cause its destruction, like wind scattering the clouds. The earth is full of riches — it promotes and increases the prosperity of a king who follows the dharma followed by virtuous ones from the beginning. If one abandons dharma and resorts to adharma, the earth contracts, like a piece of leather inserted into fire. "A kingdom should be obtained through dharma. It should be protected through dharma. With dharma as the root, the kingdom will be prosperous and will not decay or be destroyed." He spoke of good conduct: it stands out, especially among one who is low-born. If there is inferior conduct, noble lineage signifies nothing. He who is envious of another's riches, beauty, valour, lineage, happiness, fortune and honour suffers from a disease that has no cure. "The soul is the refuge of the virtuous. The virtuous are the refuge of the virtuous. The virtuous are the refuge of those who are not virtuous. But those who are not virtuous are never the refuge of those who are virtuous." Good conduct is most important in a man. If that is destroyed, there is nothing to be gained from life, riches, wealth or relatives. He spoke of the poor: their hunger generates succulence in food, extremely rare among those who are opulent. Those who are rich have no capacity to eat. But the poor digest pieces of wood. "The evil intoxication with riches is worse than intoxication with liquor. He who is intoxicated with riches does not come to his senses until he confronts a downfall." Men are obsessed with their senses unless they control the objects of their senses, just as the nakshatras (stars) are tormented by the planets. For one conquered by attraction towards the five senses, calamities increase like the moon waxing during shuklapaksha (the bright fortnight). He who wishes to conquer his advisers without conquering himself, and he who wishes to conquer his enemies without first conquering himself — such a man will fail. Vidura concluded. His counsel had been long and layered, a complete philosophy of kingship delivered in a single night. But the core was simple: Dhritarashtra's sons were clouded by enmity toward the Pandavas. Yudhishthira, possessing all auspicious marks and virtue, was fit to rule. He had endured hardships out of respect for Dhritarashtra. The king should recognize this — and not oppose him.