Shloka 55
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
तस्य मे रोचते राजन् क्षुधितस्येव भोजनम् । अमात्या मे न रोचन्ते वितृष्णस्य यथोदकम्
tasya me rocate rājan kṣudhitasyeva bhojanam | amātyā me na rocante vitṛṣṇasya yathodakam ||
Bhishma said: “O King, the sight of you pleases me as food pleases a hungry man. But your ministers do not please me—just as water gives no delight to one who is no longer thirsty.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes between genuine worth and mere association: a virtuous king may be deeply pleasing and worthy of regard, yet unworthy advisers can negate that satisfaction. The similes teach discernment—value is context-dependent, like food for the hungry and water for the thirsty.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous rule, Bhishma addresses the king directly, expressing personal approval of the king himself while openly disapproving of the king’s ministers, implying that the quality of counsel around a ruler is crucial.