Shloka 13
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
भीष्म उवाच नच प्रशास्तुं राज्यं हि शक्यमेकेन भारत । असहायवता तात नैवार्था: केचिदप्युत
bhīṣma uvāca | na ca praśāstuṃ rājyaṃ hi śakyam ekena bhārata | asahāyavatā tāta naivārthāḥ kecid apy uta ||
ビーシュマは言った。「おお、バラタの子よ。王国は、ただ一人で真に治めることはできぬ。わが子よ、助け手なくしては、いかなる目的も成し遂げられない。たとえ得たとしても、それを久しく守り抜くことはできぬ。ゆえに従者と同盟者は不可欠である。知と実務の技に通じ、善意を抱き、良き家柄に生まれ、情愛に厚い者たちを臣として持つ王のみが、王権の果実を享受できるのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective rule and the pursuit of any goal require capable support. A king must rely on competent, loyal, well-wishing aides; without them, achievements are difficult and their protection is unstable.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma counsels Yudhiṣṭhira that sovereignty is not a solitary enterprise: administration, acquisition, and protection all depend on trustworthy and skilled servants and allies.