Shloka 11
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
मान्धातोवाच बृहस्पतेर्मतं राजन्नधीतं सकल त्वया | तथैवौशनसं शास्त्र विज्ञातं ते नरोत्तम,मान्धाता बोले--राजन्! नरश्रेष्ठ! आपने बृहस्पतिके सम्पूर्ण मतका अध्ययन किया है। साथ ही शुक्राचार्यके नीतिशास्त्रका भी आपको पूर्ण ज्ञान है
Māndhātovāca: Bṛhaspater mataṁ rājan adhītaṁ sakalaṁ tvayā | tathaivauśanasaṁ śāstraṁ vijñātaṁ te narottama ||
Māndhātā said: “O King, O best of men, you have thoroughly studied the whole doctrine of Bṛhaspati; likewise, you have fully understood the treatise of Uśanas (Śukrācārya) on polity and ethics.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ideal of a ruler (or counselor) being well-trained in authoritative traditions of counsel and polity—here represented by Bṛhaspati and Uśanas—so that governance is grounded in learned ethical and practical wisdom.
Māndhātā addresses a king, praising him as ‘best of men’ and affirming that he has mastered both Bṛhaspati’s doctrine and Uśanas/Śukra’s treatise on statecraft, setting the stage for further discussion on righteous governance.