Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
अपना बछ। सा पञ्चदशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: राजा तथा राजसेवकोंके आवश्यक गुण युधिषछ्िर उवाच पितामह महाप्राज्ञ संशयो मे महानयम् । संछेत्तव्यस्त्वया राजन् भवान् कुलकरो हि नः
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: Pitāmaha mahāprājña saṁśayo me mahān ayam; saṁchettavyas tvayā rājan bhavān kulakaro hi naḥ.
युधिष्ठिर बोले—परमबुद्धिमान् पितामह! मेरे मन में यह एक महान् संशय उत्पन्न हुआ है। राजन्! आप ही इसका छेदन करें; क्योंकि आप हमारे कुल के प्रवर्तक और मार्गदर्शक हैं।
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
A seeker of dharma should openly acknowledge serious doubt and approach a qualified elder-teacher for clarification; wisdom in governance and ethics begins with removing uncertainty through authoritative counsel.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma (the revered Pitāmaha) and requests him to resolve a major doubt, invoking Bhīṣma’s authority as the senior guardian and ‘founder’ figure of their Kuru lineage.