Shloka 27
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
कुलप्रकृतिदेशानां धर्मज्ञान् मृदुभाषिण: । मध्ये वयसि निर्दोषान् हिते युक्तानविक्लवान्
kulaprakṛtideśānāṁ dharmajñān mṛdubhāṣiṇaḥ | madhye vayasi nirdoṣān hite yuktān aviklavan |
Raja hendaknya mempercayakan seluruh urusannya hanya kepada mereka yang memahami dharma dan adat kebiasaan menurut keluarga, watak, dan wilayah; yang bertutur lembut; yang pada masa muda berperilaku tanpa cela; yang tekun pada kemaslahatan dan tidak terguncang oleh takut atau gelisah. Orang-orang demikian—tanpa loba, terdidik, mampu mengekang indria, teguh dalam dharma, serta sanggup menjaga dharma dan artha—layak dipakai dalam setiap tugas kerajaan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should appoint to public responsibilities only those whose character and competence are proven: they know dharma as shaped by lineage and local custom, speak gently, have a clean record, pursue the common good, remain steady under pressure, and are not driven by greed.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma continues advising the king on statecraft—here specifying the moral and practical qualifications of trusted officials and agents to whom royal work should be delegated.