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Shloka 56

राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः

Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures

कृतज्ञं प्राज्ञमक्षुद्रं दृढभक्तिं जितेन्द्रियम्‌ । धर्मनित्यं स्थितं नीत्यं मन्त्रिणं पूजयेन्नप:,राजाको उचित है कि वह कृतज्ञ, विद्वान, महामना, राजाके प्रति दृढ़ भक्ति रखनेवाले, जितेन्द्रिय, नित्य धर्मपरायण और नीतिज्ञ मन्त्रीका आदर करे

kṛtajñaṃ prājñam akṣudraṃ dṛḍha-bhaktiṃ jitendriyam | dharma-nityaṃ sthitaṃ nītyaṃ mantriṇaṃ pūjayen nṛpaḥ ||

Vasumanā sprach: Der König soll als Minister den ehren, der dankbar, weise, großherzig und frei von Kleinlichkeit ist; fest dem Wohl des Königs ergeben, selbstbeherrscht, beständig im Dharma und wohlgegründet in rechter Staatskunst. Ein solcher Ratgeber stärkt die gerechte Herrschaft und bewahrt das Reich vor verderblichen Entschlüssen.

कृतज्ञम्grateful
कृतज्ञम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootकृतज्ञ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्राज्ञम्wise, learned
प्राज्ञम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राज्ञ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अक्षुद्रम्not mean; noble
अक्षुद्रम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअक्षुद्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
दृढभक्तिम्firm devotion
दृढभक्तिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदृढभक्ति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
जितेन्द्रियम्self-controlled (having conquered the senses)
जितेन्द्रियम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootजितेन्द्रिय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
धर्मनित्यम्constantly devoted to dharma
धर्मनित्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्मनित्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
स्थितम्steadfast, established
स्थितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootस्थित
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
नीत्यम्versed in policy; ethical
नीत्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootनीत्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
मन्त्रिणम्minister, counsellor
मन्त्रिणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमन्त्रिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पूजयेत्should honor, should worship
पूजयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootपूज्
FormVidhi-lin (optative), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
नृपःthe king
नृपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनृप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वसुमना उवाच

V
Vasumanā
N
nṛpa (the king)
M
mantrin (minister/counselor)

Educational Q&A

A ruler must choose and honor ministers of character: grateful, wise, noble-minded, loyal, self-controlled, dharma-centered, and skilled in policy. Such virtues make counsel trustworthy and governance stable.

In the Shānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and peace-time governance, Vasumanā lays down a criterion for royal administration: the king should respect and elevate a minister who embodies moral integrity and practical political wisdom.