Vyavahāra-Śuddhi and Rājadharma: Clean Administration, Counsel, and Proportional Punishment
Chapter 86
ततः सम्प्रेषयेद् राष्ट्रे राष्ट्रियाय च दर्शयेत् । अनेन व्यवहारेण द्रष्टव्यास्ते प्रजा: सदा,इन सबकी रायसे जो बात निश्चित हो, उसको देशमें प्रचारित करे और राष्ट्रके प्रत्येक नागरिकको इसका ज्ञान करा दे। युधिष्ठिर! इस प्रकारके व्यवहारसे तुम्हें सदा प्रजावर्गकी देख-रेख करनी चाहिये
tataḥ sampreṣayed rāṣṭre rāṣṭriyāya ca darśayet | anena vyavahāreṇa draṣṭavyās te prajāḥ sadā |
Bhishma said: “Thereafter, let the king have it formally communicated throughout the realm, and let it be made known to each citizen. By conducting affairs in this manner—through transparent proclamation and public awareness—you must continually keep watch over the welfare and condition of your subjects, O Yudhishthira.”
भीष्म उवाच
A ruler should govern through transparent, publicly communicated decisions and continuous oversight of the people’s welfare; administration must be accountable to the realm and oriented toward protecting and monitoring the condition of the subjects.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on practical statecraft: once a decision is settled, it should be officially disseminated across the kingdom and made known to citizens, so the king can consistently supervise and safeguard the populace.