Shloka 6
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
यो हासत्प्रग्रहरति: स्नेहरागबलात्कृत: । इन्द्रियाणामनीशत्वादसज्जनबु भूषक:
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: yo hāsatpragraharatiḥ sneharāgabalāt kṛtaḥ | indriyāṇām anīśatvād asajjanabubhūṣakaḥ ||
যুধিষ্ঠিৰে ক’লে—যি ৰজা অযোগ্য বস্তু সঞ্চয়ত আসক্ত, স্নেহ আৰু ৰাগৰ বশে চালিত, আৰু ইন্দ্ৰিয়দমন নথকাৰ বাবে সজ্জন হ’বলৈও আকাঙ্ক্ষা নকৰে—তাৰ ওচৰত উত্তম কুলজাত ভৃত্যসকলেও বিপৰীত গুণে দুষ্ট হয়।
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s lack of self-control and attachment to unworthy acquisitions corrupts the moral quality of his household and administration; therefore, mastery of the senses and aspiration toward goodness are essential for effective and prosperous governance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a principle of political ethics: when a king is driven by craving and cannot restrain his senses, even well-born servants become perverted in conduct, and the king loses the practical benefits of maintaining a competent, loyal retinue.