Shloka 6
Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)
अकुलीनस्तु पुरुष: प्राकृत: साधुसंश्रयात् । दुर्लभैश्वर्यतां प्राप्तो निन्दित: शत्रुतां ब्रजेत्,किंतु नीच कुलका मनुष्य साधुस्वभावके राजाका आश्रय पाकर यद्यपि दुर्लभ ऐश्वर्यका भोग करता है तथापि यदि राजाने एक बार भी उसकी निन्दा कर दी तो वह उसका शत्रु बन जाता है
akulīnas tu puruṣaḥ prākṛtaḥ sādhusaṁśrayāt | durlabhaiśvaryatāṁ prāpto ninditaḥ śatrutāṁ vrajet ||
എന്നാൽ കുലഹീനനായ സാധാരണ മനുഷ്യൻ സജ്ജനരുടെ ആശ്രയത്തിൽ അപൂർവമായ ഐശ്വര്യം നേടിയാലും, ഒരിക്കൽ നിന്ദിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ അവൻ ശത്രുതയിലേക്കു മാറുന്നു.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
External elevation—wealth, power, royal favor—does not necessarily refine inner character. A person of base disposition may gain prosperity through the support of the virtuous, but a single reproach can provoke hostility; therefore rulers and householders should judge steadiness of character, not merely present success.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and governance, Bhishma warns about the risks of raising and trusting unrefined or low-character individuals: even when benefited by good association and granted prosperity, they may quickly turn into enemies when criticized.