Shloka 50
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
अभिरूपै: कुले जातैर्दक्षेर्भक्तिर्बहुशुतैः । सर्वा बुद्धी: परीक्षेथास्तापसाश्रमिणामपि
abhirūpaiḥ kule jātair dakṣair bhaktir bahuśrutaiḥ | sarvā buddhīḥ parīkṣethās tāpasāśramiṇām api ||
Utathya berkata: “Bergaullah dengan para menteri yang elok rupa, berdarah bangsawan, cekatan dalam tindakan, setia kepada raja, dan luas ilmunya; dan bahkan di antara para pertapa serta penghuni pertapaan, telitilah sepenuhnya kecerdasan dan maksud-maksud mereka.”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should choose close advisers with good qualities—competence, learning, loyalty, and good conduct—and should not accept anyone’s counsel untested; even ascetics and hermitage-dwellers must be evaluated for sound judgment and true intent.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance, Utathya gives practical guidance on selecting and scrutinizing those whose opinions influence policy, extending this scrutiny beyond court officials to religious figures as well.