Shloka 7
राज्ञो वृत्त-गुण-संग्रहः (Conduct and the Thirty-Six Virtues of a King) / The King’s Code of Conduct
१३-दुष्टोंस अपना अभीष्ट कार्य न कहे। १४-अपने गुणोंका स्वयं ही वर्णन न करे। १५- श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंस उनका धन न छीने। १६-नीच पुरुषोंका आश्रय न ले ।।
nāparīkṣya nayet daṇḍaṃ na ca mantraṃ prakāśayet | visṛjen na ca lubdhebhyo viśvasen nāpakāriṣu ||
Bhishma berkata: Jangan menjatuhkan hukuman tanpa pemeriksaan yang saksama; jangan pula membuka musyawarah rahasia. Jangan menyerahkan harta kepada orang yang tamak, dan jangan menaruh percaya kepada mereka yang pernah berbuat celaka.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Exercise disciplined prudence: investigate before punishing, keep strategic counsel confidential, avoid empowering the greedy with gifts, and do not trust proven wrongdoers. These safeguards uphold dharma in governance and personal conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira with concise rules of conduct—especially relevant to rulers and decision-makers—about justice, secrecy in counsel, and discerning trust.