Shloka 14
मयूरवद्राजधर्मः (Mayūra-vat Rāja-dharma) — The Peacock-Model of Protective Kingship
नाविद्यो नानजुः पाश्चे नाप्राज्ञो नामहाधन: । संग्राह्मो वसुधापालै भुत्यो भृत्यवतां वर
nāvidyo nānajuḥ pāśce nāprājño nāmahādhanaḥ | saṅgrāhyo vasudhāpālair bhṛtyo bhṛtyavatāṃ vara ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô le meilleur de ceux qui entretiennent des serviteurs, un roi qui protège la terre ne doit pas garder à son service un homme sans instruction, dépourvu de droiture, sot ou accablé d’une extrême pauvreté. Un tel homme devient impropre aux charges de confiance et peut mettre en péril l’ordre et le bien-être que le souverain doit préserver.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be discerning in appointing retainers: those lacking learning, integrity/straightforwardness, practical wisdom, or basic stability (extreme poverty) are unsuitable for entrusted duties, since poor character or incapacity can harm the kingdom’s welfare and dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira on statecraft—here specifying the kinds of attendants a king should avoid retaining in his service.