Shloka 17
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
कुलीना वाक्यसम्पन्ना ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदा: । रूपवन्तो गुणोपेतास्तथा5लुब्धा जितश्रमा:
kulīnā vākyasampannā jñānavijñānakovidāḥ | rūpavanto guṇopetās tathā alubdhā jitśramāḥ ||
ພີດສະມະກ່າວວ່າ: «ກະສັດຄວນເລືອກເປັນມິດ ຜູ້ມີຊາດຕະກູນດີ ແລະມີວາຈາສົມບູນ; ຊໍານານໃນຄວາມຮູ້ແລະປັນຍາປະຕິບັດ; ມີຮູບງາມ ແລະຄຸນງາມ; ປາສະຈາກຄວາມໂລບ ແລະບໍ່ເມື່ອຍລ້າໃນຄວາມພາກພຽນ. ຄູ່ຄົບເຊັ່ນນີ້—ຊື່ສັດ ມີຄວາມສາມາດ ແລະມີຊື່ສຽງ—ຈະຄໍ້າຈຸນທຳຂອງກະສັດ ດ້ວຍຄໍາແນະນໍາທີ່ເຊື່ອໄດ້ ການຮັບໃຊ້ທີ່ໝັ້ນຄົງ ແລະການຂັດເກົາຕົນ—ບໍ່ແມ່ນເພື່ອຜົນປະໂຫຍດສ່ວນຕົວ»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should form close alliances only with people of proven character—noble conduct, articulate counsel, learned and practically wise, virtuous, non-greedy, and tireless—because such friends strengthen righteous governance and prevent corruption driven by self-interest.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and dharma, Bhishma is advising the king (Yudhishthira in the broader context) about the criteria for selecting trustworthy friends and associates, emphasizing moral and intellectual qualifications over mere advantage.