Shloka 5
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
अभिषिक्तो हि यो राजा राष्ट्रस्थो मित्रसंवृत: । ससुहृत्समुपेतो वा स कथं रज्जयेत् प्रजा:
abhīṣikto hi yo rājā rāṣṭrastho mitrasaṁvṛtaḥ | sasuḥṛtsamupeto vā sa kathaṁ rañjayet prajāḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira bertanya: “Bagaimanakah seorang raja—yang telah ditabalkan dengan sah di kerajaannya, teguh di tengah rakyatnya, dikelilingi sekutu, dan disokong sahabat yang berhati baik—harus bertindak agar rakyatnya tetap puas dan tenteram?”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority (abhiṣeka), allies, and loyal supporters do not by themselves secure good rule; a king must actively practice rajadharma—policies and conduct aimed at the welfare and satisfaction of the people.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Yudhiṣṭhira poses a practical question about statecraft: given a king already established and supported, by what means should he keep the populace pleased—inviting Bhīṣma’s guidance on rajadharma.