Shloka 14
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
लब्धुं लब्धा हापि सदा रक्षितुं भरतर्षभ । यस्य भृत्यजन: सर्वो ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविद:
labdhuṁ labdhā hi api sadā rakṣituṁ bharatarṣabha | yasya bhṛtyajanaḥ sarvo jñāna-vijñāna-kovidaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai banteng di antara keturunan Bharata, sekalipun sesuatu telah diperoleh, tetap sukar untuk memeliharanya dengan selamat. Seorang raja tidak dapat memerintah sendirian tanpa pembantu; bahkan, tanpa para pengiring yang berkeupayaan tiada tujuan manusia dapat dicapai, dan sekalipun tercapai, ia tidak dapat dipertahankan dengan kukuh. Hanya pemerintah yang seluruh barisan hambanya mahir dalam ilmu dan kebijaksanaan amali, berhajat baik, berdarah mulia, serta penuh kasih setia, benar-benar menikmati buah kedaulatan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Acquisition is not enough; preservation requires a competent, loyal administrative support system. A ruler succeeds and enjoys sovereignty only when supported by skilled, well-wishing, and trustworthy servants who combine knowledge with practical discernment.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the practical necessities of kingship—especially the need for qualified aides and ministers to obtain goals and to safeguard what has been achieved.