Shloka 19

Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)

Devanagari script

सम्बन्धिपुरुषैराप्तैरभिजातै: स्वदेशजै: । अहार्यरव्यभीचारै: सर्वश: सुपरीक्षितै:

Transliteration

sambandhipuruṣair āptair abhijātaiḥ svadeśajaiḥ | ahāryair avyabhicāraiḥ sarvaśaḥ suparīkṣitaiḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「頼るべきは、親族の縁をもち、信頼できて親しい者、良き家に生まれ品行正しく、自国の出身である者である。賄賂で買えず、誘惑で離反せず、忠誠揺るがず、あらゆる点で十分に試されている者たちだ。」

Word by Word

सम्बन्धि-पुरुषैःby related persons

आप्तैःby trusted (persons)

अभिजातैःby well-born (persons)

स्वदेशजैःby natives of one’s own country

अहार्य-रव्यभीचारैःby those whose conduct is not to be carried away (i.e., not swayed/unchangeable in behavior)

सर्वशःin every way; altogether

सुपरीक्षितैःby well-tested / thoroughly examined (persons)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches that positions of confidence and counsel should be given only to people whose loyalty and integrity are proven: those bound by stable ties, unbribable, unwavering, and thoroughly tested, so that dharma and the kingdom are not endangered by betrayal.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on how to choose dependable associates—emphasizing tested character, local rootedness, and resistance to corruption or disloyalty.