Shloka 24
Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)
अन्वेष्टव्या: सुपुरुषा: सहाया राज्यधारणे । न विमानयिततव्यास्ते राज्ञा वृद्धिमभीप्सता,ऐसे सैकड़ों गुणोंसे सम्पन्न राजा ही प्रजाके लिये वांछनीय होता है। नरेन्द्र! राज्यकी रक्षामें सहायता देनेवाले समस्त सैनिक भी इसी प्रकार श्रेष्ठ गुण-समूहोंसे सम्पन्न होने चाहिये, इस कार्यके लिये अच्छे पुरुषोंकी ही खोज करनी चाहिये तथा अपनी उन्नतिकी इच्छा रखनेवाले राजाको कभी अपने सैनिकोंका अपमान नहीं करना चाहिये
anveṣṭavyāḥ supuruṣāḥ sahāyā rājyadhāraṇe | na vimānayitavyās te rājñā vṛddhim abhīpsatā ||
Bhishma said: “In upholding the kingdom, a ruler must seek out excellent men as allies. A king who desires the growth and prosperity of his realm should never demean those supporters.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s prosperity depends on recruiting capable, virtuous supporters and treating them with respect; contempt for one’s own allies undermines the stability and growth of the kingdom.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the ruler on practical ethics of governance—specifically, to search for excellent men to help bear the burden of rule and to avoid humiliating those who protect and support the state.