Shloka 6
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
यो हासत्प्रग्रहरति: स्नेहरागबलात्कृत: । इन्द्रियाणामनीशत्वादसज्जनबु भूषक:
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: yo hāsatpragraharatiḥ sneharāgabalāt kṛtaḥ | indriyāṇām anīśatvād asajjanabubhūṣakaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Seorang raja yang terpaut pada menimbun perkara yang tidak layak—didorong oleh kasih dan nafsu—dan yang, kerana tidak mampu menguasai inderianya, bahkan tidak bercita-cita menjadi insan baik: maka para pelayannya yang lahir daripada keturunan mulia pun akan berubah memiliki sifat yang bertentangan. Dalam keadaan demikian, raja itu sama sekali kehilangan manfaat yang menjadi tujuan memelihara para pelayan—seperti pertambahan harta dan pengurusan kerajaan yang teratur.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s lack of self-control and attachment to unworthy acquisitions corrupts the moral quality of his household and administration; therefore, mastery of the senses and aspiration toward goodness are essential for effective and prosperous governance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a principle of political ethics: when a king is driven by craving and cannot restrain his senses, even well-born servants become perverted in conduct, and the king loses the practical benefits of maintaining a competent, loyal retinue.