Shloka 1
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
अपना बछ। सा पञ्चदशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: राजा तथा राजसेवकोंके आवश्यक गुण युधिषछ्िर उवाच पितामह महाप्राज्ञ संशयो मे महानयम् । संछेत्तव्यस्त्वया राजन् भवान् कुलकरो हि नः,युधिष्ठिर बोले--'परमबुद्धिमान् पितामह! मेरे मनमें यह एक महान् संशय बना हुआ है। राजन! आप मेरे उस संदेहका निवारण करें; क्योंकि आप हमारे वंशके प्रवर्तक हैं
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: Pitāmaha mahāprājña saṁśayo me mahān ayam; saṁchettavyas tvayā rājan bhavān kulakaro hi naḥ.
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O Grandfather, O greatly wise one—this is a grave doubt that has arisen in my mind. O King, it should be cut away by you; for you are the founder and guiding elder of our lineage.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A seeker of dharma should openly acknowledge serious doubt and approach a qualified elder-teacher for clarification; wisdom in governance and ethics begins with removing uncertainty through authoritative counsel.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma (the revered Pitāmaha) and requests him to resolve a major doubt, invoking Bhīṣma’s authority as the senior guardian and ‘founder’ figure of their Kuru lineage.