Shloka 32
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
आत्मा देशश्व कालकभ्षाप्युपाया: कृत्यमेव च | सहाया: कारणं चैव षड्वर्गो नीतिज: स्मृत:,ब्रह्माजीके नीतिशास्त्रमें आत्मा, देश, काल, उपाय, कार्य और सहायक--इन छ: वर्गोंका वर्णन है। ये छहों नीतिद्वारा संचालित होनेपर उन्नतिके कारण होते हैं
ātmā deśaś ca kālaś cāpy upāyāḥ kṛtyam eva ca | sahāyāḥ kāraṇaṃ caiva ṣaḍvargo nītijaḥ smṛtaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: The self (the ruler’s own capacity), the territory, time, the means adopted, the task to be accomplished, allies, and the underlying cause—these are remembered in political ethics as the sixfold set. When guided by sound policy, these factors become the basis of success and advancement.
भीष्म उवाच