Shloka 9
दानपात्रापात्र-निर्णयः / Determining Worthy Gifts, Recipients, and Permissible Food
बृहस्पतिपुरोगांस्तु देवर्षीनसकृत् प्रभु: । तोषयित्वोपचारेण राजनीतिमधीतवान्
bṛhaspatipurogāṁstu devarṣīn asakṛt prabhuḥ | toṣayitvopacāreṇa rājānītim adhītavān ||
उस प्रभु (भीष्म) ने बृहस्पति के अग्रणी होने पर देवर्षियों को बार-बार उचित उपचार और सेवा से प्रसन्न किया, और इस प्रकार राज-नीति का अध्ययन किया।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True rāja-nīti (statecraft) is not mere strategy; it is disciplined learning received from authoritative sages and grounded in humility—shown by repeated respectful service (upacāra) to one’s teachers.
Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīṣma’s preparation: he repeatedly attended upon and pleased the devarṣis led by Bṛhaspati, and through that relationship of service and instruction he mastered the principles of governance.