Shloka 186
Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)
सर्वान् सुपरिणीतांस्तान् कारयेथा युधिष्ठिर । युधिष्ठिर! जो धर्मज्ञ
sarvān supariṇītāṁs tān kārayethā yudhiṣṭhira |
Bhīṣma dit : « Ô Yudhiṣṭhira, veille à ce que tous ces hommes bien formés et de bonne conduite soient dûment employés et soutenus. Qu’ils te louent ou te blâment—ceux qui connaissent le dharma, fermes dans le courage et qui ne tournent jamais le dos au combat ; ceux qui gagnent leur vie en demeurant dans le royaume ou vivent sous la protection du roi ; ainsi que les ministres et les parties neutres—honore-les tous. Le devoir du roi est de soutenir et de respecter de tels hommes sans se laisser ébranler par l’éloge ou le reproche. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should honor and properly employ worthy people—dharma-knowers, steadfast warriors, dependents, ministers, and neutral parties—without being influenced by whether they praise or criticize him. Respect for merit and social support is a central duty of kingship (rājadharma).
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on statecraft and righteous rule after the war. Here he emphasizes impartial conduct: the king must maintain dignity and fairness by honoring key social and political groups regardless of their opinions about him.