Shloka 4
Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)
नापरीक्ष्य महीपाल: सचिवं कर्तुमर्हति । अकुलीननराकीर्णो न राजा सुखमेधते
na parīkṣya mahīpālaḥ sacivaṃ kartum arhati | akulīnanarākīrṇo na rājā sukham edhate ||
राजा बिना परीक्षा किए किसी को भी अपना मन्त्री न बनाए; क्योंकि नीच कुल के मनुष्यों से घिरा हुआ राजा न सुख पाता है और न उन्नति करता है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must appoint ministers only after careful examination; unworthy or ill-qualified associates undermine a king’s happiness and prosperity by corrupting counsel and administration.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on principles of statecraft, emphasizing scrutiny and merit in choosing close advisers.