Shloka 8
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
साधूनामपरित्याग: कुलीनानां च धारणम् | निचयश्न निचेयानां सेवा बुद्धिमतामपि
bhīṣma uvāca | sādhūnām aparityāgaḥ kulīnāṁ ca dhāraṇam | nicayaś ca nicīyānāṁ sevā buddhimatām api, yudhiṣṭhira |
Bhishma said: “O Yudhishthira, do not abandon the good; keep the well-born and reputable close; accumulate what ought to be stored and conserved; and associate with—indeed, take counsel and service from—the wise. These are among the means by which a king safeguards and stabilizes his realm.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler preserves the kingdom by moral and practical discernment: keep virtuous people close, retain reputable/noble supporters, maintain prudent reserves, and rely on the counsel and service of the wise rather than acting in isolation.
In the Shanti Parva’s discourse on rajadharma, Bhishma instructs King Yudhishthira on concrete principles of state protection and stability, listing key supports of governance—ethical allies, reputable households, resources, and wise advisors.