Vidura Niti
Viduranīti
Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva, adhyayas 33–40
Vidura to King Dhritarashtra
8 chapters · 587 verses
On the night before the peace embassy, King Dhritarashtra cannot sleep and sends for his half-brother Vidura. Across eight chapters Vidura answers him with plain counsel on the wise and the foolish, on kingship, speech, friendship, wealth and restraint, and urges him again and again to give the Pandavas their share before ruin overtakes his sons.
Chapters
1The Sleepless King and the Marks of the WiseUdyoga Parva 33130 v2Prudence, Fair Rule and Mastery of the SensesUdyoga Parva 3487 v3Prahlada's Judgement and Vidura's MaximsUdyoga Parva 3567 v4The Swan's Teaching and the Marks of a Great FamilyUdyoga Parva 3674 v5The Seventeen Fools and the Forest’s TigersUdyoga Parva 3764 v6Honouring Guests and Guarding CounselUdyoga Parva 3847 v7Vidura on Kinsmen, Friends and FortuneUdyoga Parva 3986 v8Only Dharma Follows Beyond DeathUdyoga Parva 4032 v
About the text
Vidura Niti is the name tradition gives to Udyoga Parva adhyayas 33–40, the counsel Vidura gives Dhritarashtra on the eve of the war. It is among the most quoted collections of practical wisdom in Sanskrit, and many of its verses circulate on their own as subhashitas.