Having begun by talking about the traits of learned people, Vidura then talked 'stupid'. If the learned can be described and identified by certain qualities, then the stupid should be the ones who lack those attributes. Yes, but Vidura made it a point to list the characteristics of the stupid.

Vidura doesn't say that not being learned is a sign of being stupid. Not being learned yet vain, being poor yet proud - are two signs of the stupid. It may sound cruel, but it's also a harsh acknowledgment of reality. "Striving for artha but without performing deeds" is a third sign of stupidity. Lest one is tempted to argue with that third, note that even the corrupt and crooked have to make some efforts to acquire wealth. They may not do so through honest means, but that is a moral question.

• 'He gives up his own objectives and tends to the objectives of others.'
• 'He takes a long time over something that should be done fast.' 
• 'He postpones tasks that should be performed.' 
• 'He resorts to falsehood for the sake of his friends.' 
• '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.' 
• 'Though he is the one who should be blamed, he is quick to blame others.' 
• 'He hates those who are stronger.' 
• 'He ignores his own strength.'
• 'He is angered, though he has no powers.'
• 'He instructs those who are not his pupils.' 

Vidura is just getting warmed up! He now embarks on some delicious number play, a theme that features several times in the epic. 

"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"

What do the numbers in this sequence allude to? Some we can guess, but Bibek Debroy's copious footnotes come to the rescue:

1. The one - intelligence
2. The two - right and wrong, the permanent and the transient
3. The three - friend, foe, and the neutral
4. The four - sama, dana, danda, bhed (no, I am not going to translate these)
5. The five - the five senses (of sight, sound, smell, touch, and touch)
6. The six - the six vices, kama (desire), krodha (anger) , lobha (avarice), moha (delusion), mada (pride) and matsarya (jealousy); or the six objectives of human existence—dharma, artha, kama, moksha, the knowledge of the world and the knowledge of the brahman
7. The seven - A kingdom has seven constituent parts. But this probably means the seven royal vices of women, dicing, hunting, drinking, harshness of speech, severity of punishment and misuse of wealth.

What does all this lead to? Happiness; and intelligence is a prerequisite to achieving this happiness. 

Vidura then embarks almost immediately on another number play, and this is even better than the previous one. It is a long one, so I will cover it in the third part, but here are some questions to get you thinking - 

1. What are the two thorns that dry up the body? 
2. Who are the two that the earth destroys? 
3. Through which two deeds can a man be radiant in this world?
4. What are the three courses of action for men?
5. What are the three kinds of men?
6. Who are the three who cannot own property?
7. and so on...