Shloka 15
Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)
सचिवं य: प्रकुरुते न चैनमवमन्यते । तस्य विस्तीर्यते राज्यं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव
sacivaṃ yaḥ prakurute na cainam avamanyate | tasya vistīryate rājyaṃ jyotsnā grahapater iva ||
Bhishma dit : «Le roi qui choisit pour ministre un homme digne et ne le traite jamais avec mépris voit sa souveraineté s’étendre de toutes parts, telle la clarté de la Lune—seigneur des astres—qui se répand partout.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s power and stability grow when he appoints capable ministers and consistently honors them; contempt for trusted advisers undermines governance, while respect enables the kingdom to flourish and expand.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on principles of good rule, using the image of moonlight spreading everywhere to illustrate how a king’s realm prospers when he values and does not insult his minister.