Shloka 56

Devanagari script

कृतज्ञं प्राज्ञमक्षुद्रं दृढभक्तिं जितेन्द्रियम्‌ । धर्मनित्यं स्थितं नीत्यं मन्त्रिणं पूजयेन्नप:,राजाको उचित है कि वह कृतज्ञ, विद्वान, महामना, राजाके प्रति दृढ़ भक्ति रखनेवाले, जितेन्द्रिय, नित्य धर्मपरायण और नीतिज्ञ मन्त्रीका आदर करे

Transliteration

kṛtajñaṃ prājñam akṣudraṃ dṛḍha-bhaktiṃ jitendriyam | dharma-nityaṃ sthitaṃ nītyaṃ mantriṇaṃ pūjayen nṛpaḥ ||

Translation

Vasumanā said: A king should honor as his minister one who is grateful, wise, large-minded and free from pettiness, firmly devoted to the king’s welfare, self-controlled, steadfast in dharma, and well-grounded in sound policy. Such a counselor strengthens righteous governance and protects the realm from ruinous decisions.

Word by Word

कृतज्ञम्grateful

प्राज्ञम्wise, learned

अक्षुद्रम्not mean; noble

दृढभक्तिम्firm devotion

जितेन्द्रियम्self-controlled (having conquered the senses)

धर्मनित्यम्constantly devoted to dharma

स्थितम्steadfast, established

नीत्यम्versed in policy; ethical

मन्त्रिणम्minister, counsellor

पूजयेत्should honor, should worship

नृपःthe king

Speaker

वसुमना उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vasumanā

nṛpa (the king)

mantrin (minister/counselor)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must choose and honor ministers of character: grateful, wise, noble-minded, loyal, self-controlled, dharma-centered, and skilled in policy. Such virtues make counsel trustworthy and governance stable.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and peace-time governance, Vasumanā lays down a criterion for royal administration: the king should respect and elevate a minister who embodies moral integrity and practical political wisdom.