Shloka 16

Devanagari script

मन्त्रिणो यस्य कुलजा असंहार्या: सहोषिता: । नृपतेर्मतिदा: सन्त: सम्बन्धज्ञानकोविदा:,जिसके मन्त्री कुलीन, धनके लोभसे फोड़े न जा सकनेवाले, सदा राजाके साथ रहनेवाले, उन्हें अच्छी बुद्धि देनेवाले, सत्पुरुष, सम्बन्ध-ज्ञानकुशल, भविष्यका भलीभाँति प्रबन्ध करनेवाले, समयके ज्ञानमें निपुण तथा बीती हुई बातके लिये शोक न करनेवाले हों, वही राजा राज्यके फलका भागी होता है

Transliteration

mantriṇo yasya kulajā asaṃhāryāḥ sahoṣitāḥ | nṛpater matidāḥ santaḥ sambandhajñānakovidāḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma dit : «Ce roi devient véritablement digne de jouir des fruits de la souveraineté lorsque ses ministres sont de haute naissance, incorruptibles et qu’on ne saurait acheter par la cupidité, lorsqu’ils demeurent sans cesse auprès du roi, lui donnent un avis sûr, sont vertueux et habiles à comprendre alliances et relations. De tels conseillers assurent l’avenir par une prudente organisation, guident le souverain vers l’action au moment juste, et ne sont pas ébranlés par le regret de ce qui est déjà passé.»

Word by Word

मन्त्रिणःministers

यस्यof whom/whose

कुलजाःwell-born, of noble family

असंहार्याःnot to be destroyed/overthrown

सहोषिताःdwelling together (with him), constantly residing with

नृपतेःof the king

मतिदाःgivers of counsel/wisdom

सन्तःgood, virtuous (men)

सम्बन्ध-ज्ञान-कोविदाःskilled in knowledge of alliances/relations

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

king (nṛpati)

ministers (mantriṇaḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s success and rightful enjoyment of royal power depend on the quality of his ministers: they must be noble, incorruptible, constantly present, morally upright, and expert in managing alliances and relationships, giving timely and future-oriented counsel without being trapped in regret over the past.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the ruler on the practical and ethical foundations of kingship, emphasizing that wise, loyal, and unbribable ministers are essential for stable governance and the proper fruits of rule.