Shloka 16
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
मन्त्रिणो यस्य कुलजा असंहार्या: सहोषिता: । नृपतेर्मतिदा: सन्त: सम्बन्धज्ञानकोविदा:
mantriṇo yasya kulajā asaṃhāryāḥ sahoṣitāḥ | nṛpater matidāḥ santaḥ sambandhajñānakovidāḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Raja itu benar-benar menjadi orang yang layak menikmati buah kedaulatan apabila para menterinya berdarah mulia, tidak dapat dibeli oleh ketamakan, teguh tidak mudah dipecah-belahkan, sentiasa berada di sisi raja, memberikan nasihat yang waras, berakhlak mulia, dan mahir memahami pakatan serta hubungan. Para penasihat demikian mengamankan masa depan dengan perancangan yang cermat, membimbing pemerintah bertindak pada saat yang tepat, dan tidak digoncang oleh penyesalan terhadap hal yang telah berlalu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s success and rightful enjoyment of royal power depend on the quality of his ministers: they must be noble, incorruptible, constantly present, morally upright, and expert in managing alliances and relationships, giving timely and future-oriented counsel without being trapped in regret over the past.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the ruler on the practical and ethical foundations of kingship, emphasizing that wise, loyal, and unbribable ministers are essential for stable governance and the proper fruits of rule.