Shloka 1

Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)

Devanagari script

अपन का छा | अफ्-#-र- तग्रयस्शीतितमो<ध्याय: आज 4ा 48: आदिके लक्षण

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | sabhāsadaḥ sahāyāś ca suhṛdaś ca viśāṃ pate | paricchadās tathāmātyāḥ kīdṛśāḥ syuḥ pitāmaha ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: O lord of the people, O Grandsire—what should the king’s court-members be like: his councillors in the assembly, his assistants, his well-wishers, his retinue and officers (such as commanders), and his ministers?

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सभासदः: council-members, courtiers
• सभासदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभासद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सहायाः: helpers, assistants
• सहायाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सुहृदः: well-wishers, friends
• सुहृदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• परिच्छदाः: retinue, attendants (incl. officers)
• परिच्छदाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिच्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: likewise, and also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अमात्याः: ministers
• अमात्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कीदृशाः: of what kind? what sort?
• कीदृशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्युः: should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पितामह: O grandsire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a rājadharma inquiry: a king’s success and moral governance depend on choosing the right kinds of councillors, aides, friends, officers, and ministers—especially those fit to hear and keep confidential counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira approaches Bhīṣma for instruction and asks what qualities should characterize the king’s assembly-members and ministers, setting up Bhīṣma’s guidance on trustworthy advisers and secret counsel.