Shloka 5
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
अभिषिक्तो हि यो राजा राष्ट्रस्थो मित्रसंवृत: । ससुहृत्समुपेतो वा स कथं रज्जयेत् प्रजा:
abhīṣikto hi yo rājā rāṣṭrastho mitrasaṁvṛtaḥ | sasuḥṛtsamupeto vā sa kathaṁ rañjayet prajāḥ ||
ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಕೇಳಿದನು—ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಅಭಿಷಿಕ್ತನಾಗಿ, ತನ್ನ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿರನಾಗಿ, ಮಿತ್ರರಿಂದ ಆವರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು, ಹಿತೈಷಿ ಸುಹೃದರಿಂದ ಸಹಿತನಾದ ರಾಜನು ಪ್ರಜೆಯನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ರಂಜಿಸಬೇಕು?
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority (abhiṣeka), allies, and loyal supporters do not by themselves secure good rule; a king must actively practice rajadharma—policies and conduct aimed at the welfare and satisfaction of the people.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Yudhiṣṭhira poses a practical question about statecraft: given a king already established and supported, by what means should he keep the populace pleased—inviting Bhīṣma’s guidance on rajadharma.