Shloka 30
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
कुलीनान् सचिवान् कृत्वा वेदविद्यासमन्वितान् | प्रशाधि पृथिवीं राजन् प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्
kulīnān sacivān kṛtvā vedavidyāsamanvitān | praśādhi pṛthivīṃ rājan prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ||
Bhishma said: “O King, appoint as your ministers men of noble lineage who are also accomplished in Vedic learning. Then govern this earth, protecting your subjects in accordance with dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s rule should be grounded in dharma and supported by competent advisers: ministers should be both socially reputable (kulīna) and intellectually/ethically trained (endowed with Vedic learning), so that governance becomes protection of the people rather than mere control.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma addresses the king (contextually Yudhishthira) and gives practical counsel on statecraft: appoint qualified ministers and govern the realm by upholding dharma while safeguarding the subjects.