Shloka 4
Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
राजोवाच ब्रवीतु भगवाननीतिमुपपन्नो<स्म्यहं प्रभो
rājovāca brūtu bhagavān nītiṃ upapanno 'smy ahaṃ prabho
Raja berkata: “Wahai tuan yang mulia, jelaskanlah prinsip-prinsip tata laku yang benar. Aku bersedia menerima bimbinganmu, wahai guru.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical posture required for learning nīti: the ruler must be receptive and prepared, requesting guidance from a qualified authority so that governance aligns with dharma rather than impulse or power.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, the king addresses a revered teacher and asks him to explain nīti—principles of righteous policy and conduct—declaring his readiness to listen and follow the counsel.