Shloka 3
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
यद्धितं राज्यतन्त्रस्य कुलस्य च सुखोदयम् । आयत्यां च तदात्वे च क्षेमवृद्धिकरं च यत्
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: yad dhitaṁ rājyatantrasya kulasya ca sukhodayam | āyatyāṁ ca tadātve ca kṣemavṛddhikaraṁ ca yat |
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Beritahulah aku jalan tindakan yang bermanfaat bagi pentadbiran kerajaan dan membawa kebahagiaan kepada keturunan diraja—yang menambah keselamatan serta kemakmuran, baik pada masa kini mahupun pada masa hadapan.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ideal policy as that which serves the common good: it must sustain the state’s administrative order, secure the dynasty’s well-being, and generate both immediate and long-term security and prosperity (kṣema and vṛddhi).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and peace, Yudhiṣṭhira asks for guidance on the kind of measure or principle that will best support stable governance and enduring welfare for his realm and lineage.