Shloka 14
मयूरवद्राजधर्मः (Mayūra-vat Rāja-dharma) — The Peacock-Model of Protective Kingship
नाविद्यो नानजुः पाश्चे नाप्राज्ञो नामहाधन: । संग्राह्मो वसुधापालै भुत्यो भृत्यवतां वर
nāvidyo nānajuḥ pāśce nāprājño nāmahādhanaḥ | saṅgrāhyo vasudhāpālair bhṛtyo bhṛtyavatāṃ vara ||
ビーシュマは言った。「従者を抱える者のうち最上よ。大地を護る王は、学なき者、率直さを欠く者、愚かな者、あるいは甚だしく貧しい者を、家臣として抱えてはならぬ。そのような者は重き任に堪えず、君主が守るべき秩序と安寧を危うくする。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be discerning in appointing retainers: those lacking learning, integrity/straightforwardness, practical wisdom, or basic stability (extreme poverty) are unsuitable for entrusted duties, since poor character or incapacity can harm the kingdom’s welfare and dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira on statecraft—here specifying the kinds of attendants a king should avoid retaining in his service.