Shloka 51
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
राज्यं प्रणिधिमूलं हि मन्त्रसारं प्रचक्षते । स्वामिन त्वनुवर्तन्ते वृत्त्यर्थमिह मन्त्रिण:
rājyaṁ praṇidhimūlaṁ hi mantrasāraṁ pracakṣate | svāmin tv anuvartante vṛttyartham iha mantriṇaḥ ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—राज्यकारभारात मंत्राचा सार सतत लक्ष ठेवणे व सावध पर्यवेक्षण हेच मानले जाते. आणि येथे मंत्री प्रामुख्याने उपजीविकेसाठीच स्वामीचे अनुसरण करतात.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective governance depends on vigilant oversight as the foundation of sound counsel, because ministers may align with the ruler from practical self-interest (livelihood) rather than pure loyalty; therefore a king must be discerning and monitor administration carefully.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises the king on the realities of court politics: counsel (mantra) is only as reliable as the ruler’s supervision, since ministers often serve primarily to sustain their position and income.