Shloka 22
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
न शक््यं हानमात्येन महत्त्वमनुशासितुम् । दुष्टामात्येन वा वीर शरीरपरिपन्थिना
na śakyaṃ hānamātyena mahattvam anuśāsitum | duṣṭāmātyena vā vīra śarīraparipanthinā ||
হে বীৰ! অযোগ্য মন্ত্ৰীৰে ৰজাৰ মহত্ত্ব সঠিকভাৱে শাসন বা ৰক্ষা কৰিব নোৱাৰি; আৰু যি দুষ্ট মন্ত্ৰী ৰজাৰ দেহৰেই শত্রু, তাৰ দ্বাৰা ত ৰাজ্যচালনা অসম্ভৱ।
शार्टूल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective kingship depends on competent and virtuous ministers. A deficient minister cannot sustain royal greatness, and a corrupt minister becomes a direct threat to the ruler and the realm; therefore, wise counsel and integrity in advisers are essential to rājadharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Śārṭūla addresses a ‘hero’ and emphasizes the practical and moral necessity of good ministers: a king cannot rule a large kingdom alone, and wicked advisers make governance collapse and endanger the king’s life.