Shloka 23
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
ऋच्विग्वा यदि वा5<चार्य: सखा वात्यन्तसंस्तुत: । गृहे वसेदमात्यस्ते स स्थात् परमपूजित:
ṛcigvā yadi vā ācāryaḥ sakhā vātyantasaṁstutaḥ | gṛhe vased amātyas te sa syāt paramapūjitaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Entah ia pendeta pelaksana yajña bagimu, gurumu, atau sahabat yang sangat termasyhur—bila ia cakap menuntaskan urusan, berhati welas asih menurut tabiatnya, dan tetap bebas dari niat buruk baik saat dihormati maupun dihina—maka biarlah ia tinggal di rumahmu sebagai menteri; dan perlakukanlah ia dengan penghormatan tertinggi.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should appoint as minister a person of proven virtue—compassionate, capable, and free from resentment in honor or insult—and then honor such a counsellor highly, especially when he is a priest, teacher, or eminent friend.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and dharma, Bhīṣma advises the listener on whom to keep close in the household as a trusted minister and how such a person should be treated.