Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 7
अधीत्य नीतिशास्त्राणि नीतियुक्तो न दृश्यते । अनभिशनज्ञश्न साचिव्यं गमित: केन हेतुना
adhītya nītiśāstrāṇi nītiyukto na dṛśyate | anabhiśanajñaḥ sacivyaṃ gamitaḥ kena hetunā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Even after studying treatises on polity and ethics, one does not necessarily see a person become truly guided by right conduct. And, on the other hand, someone ignorant of policy is sometimes raised to the post of minister. By what cause does this happen?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the gap between theoretical learning (studying nītiśāstra) and lived ethical competence, and questions why social-political appointments often do not align with merit or true discernment.
Yudhiṣṭhira raises a reflective inquiry about governance: why some who have studied policy are not actually righteous or capable in conduct, while others lacking such knowledge still obtain ministerial authority.