Shloka 26

Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)

Devanagari script

एक कामपर एक ही व्यक्तिको नियुक्त करना चाहिये, दो या तीनको नहीं; क्योंकि वे आपसमें एक-दूसरेको सहन नहीं कर पाते; एक कार्यपर नियुक्त हुए अनेक व्यक्तियोंमें प्रायः सदा मतभेद हो ही जाता है ।। कीर्तिप्रधानो यस्तु स्याद्‌ यश्व स्थात्‌ समये स्थित: । समर्थान्‌ यश्न न द्वेष्टि नानर्थान्‌ कुरुते च यः:,जो कीर्तिको प्रधानता देता है और मर्यादाके भीतर स्थित रहता है, जो सामर्थ्यशाली पुरुषोंसे द्वेघ और अनर्थ नहीं करता है, जो कामनासे, भयसे, लोभसे अथवा क्रोधसे भी धर्मका त्याग नहीं करता, जिसमें कार्यकुशलता तथा आवश्यकताके अनुरूप बातचीत करनेकी पूरी योग्यता हो, वही पुरुष तुम्हारा प्रधानमन्त्री होना चाहिये

Transliteration

ekakāmapara ekaṁ hī vyaktiṁ niyoktuṁ cāhye, dvau vā trīn vā na; yato te parasparaṁ anyonyaṁ soḍhuṁ na śaknuvanti; ekasmin kārye niyuktānāṁ bahūnāṁ vyaktīnāṁ madhye prāyaḥ sadā matabhedo bhavati. kīrtipradhāno yas tu syād yaś ca sthāt samaye sthitaḥ | samarthān yaś ca na dveṣṭi nānarthān kurute ca yaḥ ||

Translation

A single task should be entrusted to one person, not to two or three, for they often cannot tolerate one another; when many are appointed to one charge, disagreement almost always arises. Then Bhishma describes the ideal chief minister: one who prizes true honor, keeps within proper bounds and established norms, does not envy capable men and does not cause harm or disorder; who does not abandon dharma out of desire, fear, greed, or anger; and who is skilled in action and able to speak aptly according to the need of the hour. Such a man should be your prime minister.

Word by Word

कीर्तिप्रधानःone for whom fame is primary

यःwho

तुbut/indeed

स्यात्should be

यःwho

चand

स्थात्should stand/remain

समयेat the proper time/occasion

स्थितःstanding/abiding; situated

समर्थान्the capable (men)

यःwho

नnot

द्वेष्टिhates

नnot

अनर्थान्harms/misdeeds; undesirable acts

कुरुतेdoes/commits

चand

यःwho

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

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?

Assign one responsible person per task to prevent factional conflict, and choose a chief minister who prioritizes honorable reputation, remains within proper norms, does not envy the capable, avoids causing harm, and never abandons dharma due to desire, fear, greed, or anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the king on practical governance: how to structure appointments and what moral and professional qualities to seek in a principal minister.