Shloka 8
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
एतन्मे संशयस्यास्य राजधर्मान् सुदुर्विदान् । बृहस्पतिसमो बुद्धया भवान् शंसितुगर्हति
etān me saṁśayasyāsya rājadharmān sudurvidān | bṛhaspatisamo buddhyā bhavān śaṁsitum arhati ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Mohon lenyapkan keraguanku ini dan huraikanlah rājadharma—tugas-tugas seorang raja—yang amat sukar ditanggapi. Kerana dalam kebijaksanaan, tuan adalah seperti Bṛhaspati sendiri, dan layak untuk mengajarkannya.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic inquiry: when principles of governance are subtle and difficult, one should seek clarification from a truly wise teacher. It also frames rajadharma as a specialized, demanding field requiring authoritative guidance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and governance, Yudhiṣṭhira voices his uncertainty about the complex duties of kingship and requests the elder teacher to resolve his doubt and systematically explain rajadharma, praising his wisdom as comparable to Bṛhaspati.