Shloka 10
Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)
युक्तचारं स्वविषये संधिविग्रहकोविदम् । राज्स्त्रिवर्गवेत्तारं पौरजानपदप्रियम्
bhīṣma uvāca | yuktacāraṃ svaviṣaye saṃdhivigrahakovidam | rājñas trivargavettāraṃ paurajānapadapriyam ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Que le roi nomme ministre celui dont la conduite est réglée dans le domaine de son devoir ; habile à discerner quand conclure la paix et quand entrer en hostilité ; connaissant les trois buts du roi—dharma, artha et kāma—et aimé des citadins comme des gens des campagnes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s minister should unite personal discipline with strategic intelligence: he must know when peace or conflict is appropriate, understand the balanced pursuit of dharma, artha, and kāma for the ruler, and maintain the trust and affection of both urban and rural subjects.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on royal policy, specifying key qualifications for appointing a minister—especially competence in diplomacy/war policy and popularity among the people.