Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
अप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियग्राममत्यन्तानुगतं शुचिम् । शक्तं चैवानुरक्तं च युञ्ज्यान्महति कर्मणि
aprakīrṇendriyagrāmam atyantānugataṁ śucim | śaktaṁ caivānuraktaṁ ca yuñjyān mahati karmaṇi ||
Vāmadeva said: “For great and weighty undertakings, one should appoint a man whose senses are not scattered, who is thoroughly disciplined and obedient to rightful direction, whose conduct is pure, who is capable, and who is devoted—such a person should be engaged in important work.”
वामदेव उवाच
Important responsibilities should be entrusted only to a person who is self-controlled (senses not scattered), morally pure, competent, and loyally committed—ethical fitness and inner discipline are prerequisites for public or major duties.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and governance, the sage Vāmadeva lays down a practical rule for assigning major tasks: select and appoint individuals of disciplined senses, purity, capability, and devotion for great undertakings.