Shloka 43
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
सत्यवाक् शीलसम्पन्नो गम्भीर: सत्रपो मृदु: । पितृपैतामहो यः स्यात् स मन्त्र श्रोतुमहति
satyavāk śīlasampanno gambhīraḥ satrapo mṛduḥ | pitṛpaitāmaho yaḥ syāt sa mantraṃ śrotum arhati ||
जो सत्य बोलने वाला, शील-सम्पन्न, गम्भीर, लज्जाशील, कोमल स्वभाव का हो, और पिता-पितामह के समय से ही राजा की सेवा करता आया हो—वह भी गुप्त मन्त्रणा सुनने का अधिकारी है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Confidential political counsel should be entrusted only to a person of proven virtue—truthful speech, good character, gravity, modesty, and gentleness—whose loyalty is established through long, hereditary service; moral reliability is presented as the foundation of political trust.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and governance in the Shanti Parva, he lists the qualities of a trustworthy attendant/counsellor who may be admitted to secret deliberations, emphasizing ethical character and tested loyalty.