Shloka 6
राज्ञो वृत्त-गुण-संग्रहः (Conduct and the Thirty-Six Virtues of a King) / The King’s Code of Conduct
अर्थ ब्रूयान्न चासत्सु गुणान् ब्रूयान्न चात्मन: । आदद्यान्न च साधुभ्यो नासत्पुरुषमाश्रयेत्
arthaṁ brūyān na cāsatsu guṇān brūyān na cātmanaḥ | ādadyān na ca sādhubhyo nāsatpuruṣam āśrayet ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Ucapkanlah perkataan yang bermakna dan benar; jangan memuji kebajikan pada tempat yang tidak memilikinya, dan jangan pula tenggelam dalam memuji diri. Jangan mengambil dari orang-orang saleh. Dan jangan sekali-kali mencari sandaran pada orang jahat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Practice ethical restraint in speech and conduct: speak only what is meaningful, avoid false praise and self-praise, do not exploit the virtuous, and do not rely on wicked people.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on moral discipline—especially truthful, purposeful speech, fair dealing, and choosing worthy associations.