Vidur Neeti (4)
[This page on Vidur Neeti is mostly based on Kamala Subramanyam's "Mahabharata" Udyog Parv, Chapter 7, or otherwise from Mahabharata, Udyog Parv Chapter 39-40.]

Dhritraashtra said - "Man is like a puppet moved by strings subjected to his destiny in the hands of the Creator. You go on telling me, I am listening." Vidur again started - "Always speak according to time, if not, then even Brihasapti also repents for it. He that is naturally agreeable, always remains so. One always attributes good to him who he loves, and bad to him whom he hates. As soon as Duryodhan was born, I told you to abandon this son - by abandoning him you would secure the prosperity of hundred sons, and by keeping him you would bring destruction to your hundred sons. That gain should not be regarded which brings loss; and that loss should never be regarded which brings gain."

Dhritraashtra said - "What you are saying is definitely good for my future, and is also approved by wise men, but I cannot abandon my son. It is also well-known that wherever is righteousness, there is victory." Vidur said - "When the occasion, that caused friendship, is over the friendship is also over. He who helps his poor, wretched and helpless relations, enjoys prosperity for ever. So by all means you should seek the growth of thy race. You are old, you should control your sons. I am saying this for your own good. You should consider me as your well wisher. O king, Happiness should always be enjoyed with one's relatives. You will repent for your actions when you will hear the death of your sons or Paandu's sons. You are the eldest one in the family. If Duryodhan is inflicting Paandav, it is your duty to undo them all. By reinstating them you will be cleansed of your all sins.

Neither virtue nor profit can be known by a person even with the intelligence of Brihaspati, without the knowledge of scriptures and without waiting upon the old. A thing is lost when thrown into the sea, words are lost if addressed to him who has not listened to them, scriptures are lost if one has no control over his soul, and a libation of Ghee (clarified butter) is lost if poured over the ashes. One's lineage is tested by the objects of his enjoyment, place of birth, house, behavior, food and dress. He that is intelligent should avoid an ignorant of wicked soul.

Humility, love for all creatures, forgiveness and respect for friends lengthen life. Fruits of women are the pleasures of sex and children; fruits of the wealth are enjoyment and charity. he that has strength of mind has no fear from anything. In envy lies the strength of wicked, and in forgiveness the strength of virtuous. These EIGHT are not the destructive of vow - water, roots, fruits, milk, Ghee, what is done at the will of Brahmaa or at the command of the preceptor, and medicine. That which is disliked by one's own self should not be done to others - this is also virtue.

Anger must be conquered by forgiveness, a wicked man should be conquered by honesty, a miser should be conquered by liberality, and falsehood must be conquered by truth. One should not trust a woman, a swindler, an idle person, a coward, one that is fierce, one that boasts, a thief, an ungrateful person, and an atheist. A man without knowledge is to be pitied, an act of sex which is not fruitful is to be pitied, the people of a kingdom without food are to be pitied, and a kingdom without a king is to be pitied. These constitute the source of pain, weaken the creatures, rains, decay of mountains, absence of enjoyment, anguish of women, and wordy arrows of the heart.

One cannot conquer sleep by lying down, women by desire, fire by fuel and wine by drinking. Win your friends by gifts, wife by food and drink. O Dhritraashtra, forsake your desire. There is none who who cannot manage to live by some means or other. All, the paddy, animals, women, wheat, gold or other things on the earth united together cannot satisfy even one person. Considering this fact, those are wise who do not desire for universal dominion. I again request you to treat both your own children and Paandav equally.

A victory by untruth, deceiving a king, and insincerity to preceptor, all THREE are equal to killing of a Braahman. Carelessness in waiting upon preceptor, haste, and boasting are the THREE enemies of knowledge. Idleness, inattention, confusion of the intellect, restlessness, gathering for killing time, haughtiness, pride, and covetousness are the SEVEN faults of a student. How can they earn knowledge who desire for pleasure? And who have desire for pleasure cannot learn. Fire is never gratified with fuel, ocean is never gratified with water of innumerable rivers, death is never gratified with all the living creatures, a beautiful woman is never satisfied with any number of men.

Hope kills patience, Yam kills growth, anger kills prosperity, miserliness kills fame, absence of tending kills cattle, one angry Braahman can destroy the whole kingdom, I tell you another teaching which is above all - that virtue should never be forsaken from desire, fear, or temptation or even for life. Virtue is everlasting; pleasure and pain are transitory. You yourself see and tell which is the highest? Contentment is the highest. The lack of contentment has about to bring the destruction of your kingdom and your children whom you have tended dearly.

Many mighty and virtuous kings have ruled here, but all of them have been victims of the Universal Destroyer. They all went away leaving behind their kingdoms and pleasures. When one is dead his dead body is thrown away in fire as if it is a piece of wood. Others enjoy the wealth of dead man, while birds and animals feast on his body. Only two things go with him, his good works and his sins. This man is followed by his own actions - good or bad. Therefore one should carefully and gradually earn the good works, not the sins. Soul is sacred and the absence of desire is the supreme work.

Hey Raajan, Soul is said to be a sacred river, religious activities are its sacred baths, truth is its water, self-control are its banks, kindness are its waves. O king, Life is also like a river, whose waters are the five senses, its crocodiles and anger are desire and anger. Making self-control your raft, you can cross it (save yourself from rebirths). I am telling you all this because Yudhishthir is falling from Kshatriya's duties, place him there where he can fulfill his Kshatriya's duties."

Dhritraashtra said - "I also wish the same what you are talking about, but as soon as I come in Duryodhan's contact, it turns around. Fate is very powerful. Destiny takes its own course, individual's efforts are useless in this regard."