Shloka 27
(ज्ञातीनामनवज्ञानं भृत्येष्वशठता सदा | नैपुण्यं चार्थचर्यासु यस्यैते तस्थ सा मही ।। जो जातिभाइयोंका अपमान तथा सेवकोंके प्रति शठता कभी नहीं करता और कार्यसाधनमें कुशल है, उसी राजाके अधिकारमें यह पृथ्वी रहती है ।। आललस्यं चैव निद्रा च व्यसनान्यतिहास्यता । यस्यैतानि न विद्यान्ते तस्यैव सुचिरं मही ।। जिस राजामें आलस्य, निद्रा, दुर्व्यसन तथा अत्यन्त हास्यप्रियता--ये दुर्गुण नहीं हैं, उसीके अधिकारमें यह पृथ्वी दीर्घकालतक रहती है ।। वृद्धसेवी महोत्साहो वर्णानां चैव रक्षिता | धर्मचर्या: सदा यस्य तस्येयं सुचिरं मही ।। जो बड़े-बूढ़ोंको सेवा करनेवाला, महान् उत्साही, चारों वर्णोंका रक्षक तथा सदा धर्माचरणमें तत्पर रहता है, उसीके पास यह पृथ्वी चिरकालतक स्थिर रहती है ।। नीतिमार्गानुसरणं नित्यमुत्थानमेव च । रिपूणामनवज्ञानं तस्येयं सुचिरं मही ।। जो राजा नीतिमार्गका अनुसरण करता, सदा ही उद्योगमें तत्पर रहता और शत्रुओंकी अवहेलना नहीं करता, उसके अधिकारमें दीर्घकालतक इस पृथ्वीका राज्य बना रहता है ।। उत्थानं चैव दैवं च तयोनननात्वमेव च । मनुना वर्णित पूर्व वक्ष्ये शूणु तदेव हि ।। पूर्वकालमें मनुजीने पुरुषार्थ, दैव तथा उन दोनोंके अनेक भेदोंका वर्णन किया था। वह बताता हूँ, सुनो ।। उत्थान हि नरेन्द्राणां बृहस्पतिरभाषत । नयानयविधानज्ञ: सदा भव कुरूद्वह ।। कुरुश्रेष्ठस बृहस्पतिजीने नरेशोंके लिये सदा ही उद्योगशील बने रहनेका उपदेश दिया है। तुम सदा नीति और अनीतिके विधानको जानो ।। दुर्हदां छिद्रदर्शी यः: सुहृदामुपकारवान् । विशेषविच्च भृत्यानां स राज्यफलमश्षुते ।।) जो शत्रुओंके छिद्र देखे, सुहदोंका उपकार करे और सेवकोंकी विशेषताको समझे, वह राज्यके फलका भागी होता है ।। सर्वसंग्रहणे युक्तो नूपो भवति य: सदा । उत्थानशीलो मित्राढ्य: स राजा राजसत्तम:
bhīṣma uvāca |
ñātīnām anavajñānaṁ bhṛtyeṣv aśaṭhatā sadā |
naipuṇyaṁ cārthacaryāsu yasyaitē tastha sā mahī ||
ālasyaṁ caiva nidrā ca vyasanāny atihāsyatā |
yasyaitāni na vidyante tasyaiva suciraṁ mahī ||
vṛddhasevī mahotsāho varṇānāṁ caiva rakṣitā |
dharmacaryā sadā yasya tasyeyaṁ suciraṁ mahī ||
nītimārgānusaraṇaṁ nityam utthānam eva ca |
ripūṇām anavajñānaṁ tasyeyaṁ suciraṁ mahī ||
utthānaṁ caiva daivaṁ ca tayor nānātvaṁ eva ca |
manunā varṇitaṁ pūrvaṁ vakṣye śṛṇu tadeva hi ||
utthānaṁ hi narendrāṇāṁ bṛhaspatir abhāṣata |
nayānayavidhānajñaḥ sadā bhava kurūdvaha ||
durhṛdāṁ chidradarśī yaḥ suhṛdām upakāravān |
viśeṣavic ca bhṛtyānāṁ sa rājyaphalam aśnute ||
sarvasaṅgrahaṇe yukto nṛpo bhavati yaḥ sadā |
utthānaśīlo mitrāḍhyaḥ sa rājā rājasattamaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “The earth remains firmly under the rule of that king who does not slight his kinsmen, is never deceitful toward his servants, and is skilled in the practical management of wealth and affairs. The earth stays long with that ruler in whom laziness, excessive sleep, addictions, and frivolous buffoonery are not found. It endures with the king who serves the elders, is greatly energetic, protects the four social orders, and is always devoted to righteous conduct. It remains long with him who follows the path of sound policy, is constantly industrious, and does not underestimate his enemies. Manu of old described human effort, fate, and their many distinctions; I shall state that—listen. For Brihaspati instructed kings that sustained effort is essential; O best of the Kurus, be ever one who knows the ordinances of right policy and its opposite. He who detects the vulnerabilities of ill-wishers, repays the kindness of friends, and understands the particular capacities of servants—he enjoys the fruits of sovereignty. The king who is always engaged in holding his realm together, who is energetic and rich in allies—he is the best of kings.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kingdom endures under a ruler who combines ethical restraint (no contempt for kin, no deceit toward servants, devotion to dharma) with practical competence (skill in administration, constant initiative, vigilance toward enemies, and strong alliances).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the Kuru king (Yudhiṣṭhira) by listing traits that stabilize sovereignty, then invokes earlier authorities—Manu on effort and fate, and Bṛhaspati on royal exertion and policy—to reinforce his counsel.