Shloka 23

Devanagari script

सहायाननुरक्तांश्व॒ नयज्ञानुपसंहितान्‌ । परस्परमसंसृष्टान्‌ विजिगीषूनलोलुपान्‌,महाभाग! इसके लिये आपको चाहिये कि जिनका आपके प्रति अनुराग हो, जो नीतिके जानकार, सद्धाव-सम्पन्न, परस्पर गुटबंदीसे रहित, विजयकी अभिलाषासे युक्त, लोभरहित, कपटनीतिमें कुशल, बुद्धिमान, स्वामीके हितसाधनमें तत्पर और मनस्वी हों, ऐसे व्यक्तियोंको सहायक या सचिव बनाकर आप पिता और गुरुके समान उनका सम्मान करें

Transliteration

sahāyān anuraktāṁś ca nayajñān upasaṁhitān | parasparam asaṁsṛṣṭān vijigīṣūn alolupān ||

Translation

Śārṭūla said: “Appoint as your aides those who are devoted to you, grounded in political and ethical prudence, not entangled in factional alliances with one another, eager for rightful victory, and free from greed. Such ministers—wise, loyal, and intent on their lord’s welfare—should be honored by you as you would honor a father or a teacher.”

Word by Word

सहायान्helpers, assistants

अनुरक्तान्attached, devoted

चand

नयज्ञknowing policy/statecraft

अनुपसंहितान्well-endowed/possessed (of good qualities)

परस्परम्mutually, with one another

असंसृष्टान्not mixed/entangled (not factional)

विजिगीषून्desirous of conquest/victory

अलोलुपान्not greedy

महाभागO fortunate/noble one

Speaker

शार्टूल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śārṭūla

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should choose ministers who are loyal, competent in statecraft, free from greed, and not bound by mutual factional collusion; such aides deserve high honor because good counsel and integrity safeguard the realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In a didactic passage of Śānti Parva on governance, Śārṭūla instructs the listener on how to select and treat trusted assistants/secretaries, emphasizing loyalty, competence, and freedom from factional intrigue.