Shloka 22
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
व्यवहारक्ष नगरे यस्य कर्मफलोदय: । दृश्यते शंखलिखित: स धर्मफलभाडू नृप:,जिसके नगरमें कर्मके अनुसार फलकी प्राप्तिका प्रतिपादन करनेवाले शंख-लिखित मुनिके बनाये हुए न्याय-व्यवहारका पालन होता देखा जाता है, वह राजा धर्मके फलका भागी होता है
vyavahārakṣa nagare yasya karmaphalodayaḥ | dṛśyate śaṅkhalikhitaḥ sa dharmaphalabhāg nṛpaḥ ||
Bhishma said: That king is deemed a sharer in the fruits of Dharma in whose city one can be seen the orderly administration of justice—set down by the sages Śaṅkha and Likhita—where outcomes are allotted in accordance with each person’s deeds. The ruler’s merit lies in upholding a public order that makes moral causality effective through fair governance.
भीष्म उवाच