Shloka 5
राज्ञो वृत्त-गुण-संग्रहः (Conduct and the Thirty-Six Virtues of a King) / The King’s Code of Conduct
५-दीनता न लाते हुए ही प्रिय भाषण करे। ६-शूरवीर बने, किंतु बढ़-बढ़कर बातें न बनावे। ७-दान दे, परंतु अपात्रको नहीं। ८-साहसी हो, किंतु निष्ठर न हो ।।
saṃdadhīta na cānārya-viṃ gṛhnīyān na bandhubhiḥ | nābhaktaṃ cārayec cāraṃ kuryāt kāryam apīḍayā ||
ビーシュマは言った。「卑屈に堕することなく、喜ばれる言葉を語れ。勇士たれ、しかし大言壮語するな。施せ、されど不相応の者には与えるな。大胆であれ、しかし冷酷であってはならぬ。盟約を結べ、だが卑しき者とは結ぶな。身内の縁者と争いを起こすな。王に忠ならぬ者を密偵として用いるな。そして誰にも苦しみを与えずに事を成せ――必要な務めを、圧迫なく遂行せよ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches practical righteousness in governance: choose allies of good character, preserve harmony among one’s own kin, rely only on loyal agents for sensitive work, and pursue objectives without oppressing or harming others.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on the ethical conduct of a ruler—how to manage alliances, internal relations, intelligence-gathering, and the execution of policy with minimal harm.