Shloka 23
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
संगृहीतमनुष्यश्न यो राजा राजधर्मवित् । षड्वर्ग प्रतिगृह्लाति स धर्मफलमश्लुते
saṅgṛhītamanuṣyaś ca yo rājā rājadharmavit | ṣaḍvargaṃ pratigṛhṇāti sa dharmaphalam aśnute ||
भीष्म ने कहा—जो राजा राजधर्म को जानता है, अपने यहाँ योग्य जनों को संगृहीत रखता है, और अवसरानुसार संधि, विग्रह, यान, आसन, द्वैधीभाव तथा समाश्रय—इन षाड्गुण्यों का प्रयोग करता है—वह धर्म के फल का भागी होता है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler earns the fruits of dharma by combining ethical kingship with practical wisdom: supporting capable and good people, and applying the six strategic measures (peace, war, march, staying, double policy, and alliance/shelter) appropriately to protect the realm.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma continues advising on ideal governance, stating that a king who maintains a strong circle of worthy persons and uses the recognized tools of diplomacy and strategy according to time and circumstance is truly righteous and gains dharmic merit.