Shloka 18
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
सम्समित्राश्न कृतज्ञाश्च सर्वज्ञा लोभवर्जिता: । माधुर्यगुणसम्पन्ना: सत्यसंधा जितेन्द्रिया:,जो कुलीन, बोलनेमें समर्थ, ज्ञान-विज्ञानमें कुशल, रूपवानू, गुणवान्ू, लोभहीन, काम करनेसे कभी न थकनेवाले, अच्छे मित्रोंसे सम्पन्न, कृतज्ञ, सर्वज्ञ, लोभसे दूर रहनेवाले, मधुरस्वभाववाले, सत्यप्रतिज्ञ, जितेन्द्रिय, सदा व्यायामशील, उत्तम कुलकी संतान, अपने कुलका भार वहन करनेमें समर्थ, दोषशून्य तथा लोकमें विख्यात हों--ऐसे मनुष्योंको राजा अपना मित्र बनावे
samsamitrāś ca kṛtajñāś ca sarvajñā lobhavarjitāḥ | mādhuryaguṇasampannāḥ satyasaṃdhā jitendriyāḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: A king should choose as friends those men who are well-endowed with good companions, grateful, and broadly knowledgeable; who are free from greed; who possess sweetness of disposition and refined virtues; who are steadfast in truth and firm in their vows; and who have conquered their senses. Such people—of good conduct and reputation—become reliable supports for righteous kingship and the stability of the realm.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should form close alliances only with people of proven virtue—especially those free from greed, grateful, truthful, gentle in conduct, and self-controlled—because such friends strengthen righteous governance and prevent corruption.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on practical ethics of rule, here specifying the qualities of men whom a king should accept as trusted friends and associates.