Shloka 7
राज्ञो वृत्त-गुण-संग्रहः (Conduct and the Thirty-Six Virtues of a King) / The King’s Code of Conduct
१३-दुष्टोंस अपना अभीष्ट कार्य न कहे। १४-अपने गुणोंका स्वयं ही वर्णन न करे। १५- श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंस उनका धन न छीने। १६-नीच पुरुषोंका आश्रय न ले ।। नापरीक्ष्य नयेद् दण्डं न च मन्त्र प्रकाशयेत् । विसूजेन्न च लुब्धेभ्यो विश्वसेन्नापकारिषु,१७-अपराधकी अच्छी तरह जाँच पड़ताल किये बिना ही किसीको दण्ड न दे। १८- गुप्त मन्त्रणाको प्रकट न करे। १९-लोभियोंको धन न दे। २०-जिन्होंने कभी अपकार किया हो, उनपर विश्वास न करे
nāparīkṣya nayet daṇḍaṃ na ca mantraṃ prakāśayet | visṛjen na ca lubdhebhyo viśvasen nāpakāriṣu ||
Bhishma said: One should not impose punishment without first conducting a careful examination. Nor should one disclose confidential counsel. One should not hand over resources to the greedy, and one should not place trust in those who have previously done harm. These are practical restraints that protect dharma by preventing rash justice, political ruin through leaked strategy, and self-destruction through misplaced generosity and trust.
भीष्म उवाच