Vidura Advises Dhritarashtra with the Virochana-Sudhanva Story

Dhritarashtra was not satisfied. He had listened to Vidura's varied words — words full of dharma and artha — and he wanted more. "Tell me yet again," the blind king said. "I am not satisfied from listening to your varied words." Vidura began with a comparison. Bathing in all the tirthas (sacred waters) and kindness toward all beings — perhaps they are equal. But perhaps kindness is superior. "Always be kind toward your sons," he said. "You will obtain supreme fame here and in heaven after your death." Then he told a story. There was once a woman named Keshini. She asked Virochana, the son of the asura king Prahlada, a direct question: "Are brahmanas or the sons of Diti superior? With whom should Sudhanva not be seated on the couch?" Virochana answered without hesitation. "We are the descendants of Prajapati and are the supreme among beings. This entire world belongs to us. Who are the gods and who are the brahmanas?" Keshini did not argue. She told him to wait until morning, when Sudhanva would arrive, and she would see them both together. When Sudhanva came, he saw Virochana seated on a golden seat. "I cannot touch that golden seat occupied by you," Sudhanva said. "I will then descend to the same level as you and I cannot be seated with you." Virochana laughed at him. "You deserve a wooden plank, a handful of kusha grass or a cushion made of grass. You do not deserve to sit on the same seat as I." Sudhanva answered calmly: "Even your father honours me and sits below me when we are seated together. You are a child reared in happiness at home and do not know anything." Virochana proposed a wager — gold, cows, horses, all the riches the asuras possessed. Let them put the question to those who know. "Forget your gold, cows and horses," Sudhanva said. "Let us stake our lives and put the question to those who know." Virochana hesitated. "Having staked our lives, where will we go? I will not stand before the gods, nor before men." "After having staked our lives, we will go to your father," Sudhanva said. "Prahlada will not utter a falsehood, even for the sake of his son." They went to Prahlada. He saw them approaching on the same road, like two angry serpents. "You have never travelled together before," he said. "How is it that you are travelling together now?" "There is no friendship between me and Sudhanva," Virochana said. "We have staked our lives. I am asking you a question. Please do not utter a falsehood." Prahlada ordered water and madhuparka (a ceremonial offering of honey and milk) to be brought for Sudhanva. He offered a fat white cow. Sudhanva refused — he had already been offered these on the way. "Answer the question that we are asking you." Prahlada turned to Sudhanva instead. "Where does the false witness, who neither speaks the truth nor lies, spend the night?" Sudhanva answered: "A false witness spends the night like a woman ignored, like one who has been defeated in gambling, or like one whose limbs are exhausted from carrying a load. A false witness spends the night like someone who is debarred from the city and remains hungry outside the gates, where he always sees many enemies. A lie for the sake of an animal implies that five are killed. A lie for the sake of a cow implies that ten are killed. A lie for the sake of a horse implies that one hundred are killed. A lie for the sake of a man implies that one thousand are killed. A lie for the sake of gold implies that those who have been born, and those who are yet to be born, are killed. A lie for the sake of land implies that everything is killed. Therefore, do not lie for the sake of land." Prahlada pronounced his judgment. "Angiras is superior to me and Sudhanva is superior to you. His mother is superior to your mother. Therefore, you have been won by him. This Sudhanva now owns your life." But Prahlada asked for his son back. And Sudhanva, honoring the truth Prahlada had spoken, returned Virochana's life — on one condition: that Virochana wash his feet before Keshini. Vidura brought the story home. "Therefore, you should not utter a falsehood for the sake of land. By deviating for the sake of your son, do not head toward destruction with your sons and your advisers." He spoke on. The gods do not protect with a staff, like herdsmen looking after animals. They give wisdom to those they wish to protect. Hymns do not save from calamities one who resorts to illusion and deceit. When the time for destruction arrives, hymns desert him, like birds who have grown wings leaving a nest. He listed the seven who should not be summoned as witnesses — a palmist, a trader who had been a thief earlier, a skilled fowler, a physician, an enemy, a friend, an actor. He listed those who were the equals of those who kill brahmanas — an arsonist, a poisoner, a pimp, a seller of soma, one who makes arrows, a soothsayer, one who injures friends, one who consorts with another's wife, an abortionist, one who violates his preceptor's bed, a brahmana who drinks liquor, one who is unnecessarily harsh in use of words, a base person, an atheist, one who criticizes the Vedas, a bribe-taker, an outcast, one who is niggardly despite possessing riches, one who injures when asked for protection. Gold is tested in fire made of straw. A noble man is tested through the yoke he bears. A virtuous man through his conduct. A brave one at the time of fear. A patient one when confronted with calamity. Well-wishers and enemies in times of great hardship. Old age destroys beauty. Hope destroys steadfastness. Death destroys life. Jealousy destroys dharma. Anger destroys prosperity. Association with the ignoble destroys conduct. Lust destroys modesty. Vanity destroys everything. There are eight qualities that illuminate a man — wisdom, noble birth, self-control, learning, valour, restraint in speech, generosity according to capacity, and gratitude. But there is one quality that gathers them together: when a king honours a man, that quality shines over all the others. Vidura concluded with a warning. Duryodhana, Shakuni, Duhshasana, and Karna — they are foolish. Treat the Pandavas like sons. Do not let attachment to your own children destroy everything.