Shloka 9
मयूरवद्राजधर्मः (Mayūra-vat Rāja-dharma) — The Peacock-Model of Protective Kingship
साधव: कुलजा: शूरा ज्ञानवन्तो5नसूयका: । अक्षद्रा: शुचयो दक्षा:स्युर्नरा: पारिपाश्वका:,साधु, कुलीन, शूरवीर, ज्ञानवानू, अदोषदर्शी, अच्छे स्वभाववाले, पवित्र और कार्यदक्ष मनुष्योंको ही राजा अपना पार्श्चवर्ती सेवक बनावे
bhīṣma uvāca | sādhavaḥ kulajāḥ śūrā jñānavanto 'nasūyakāḥ | akṣadrāḥ śucayo dakṣāḥ syur narāḥ pāripārśvakāḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Hendaklah raja melantik sebagai pembantu rapat hanya orang yang berbudi, berdarah bangsawan, dan berani; yang berakal budi serta bebas daripada iri hati; yang tidak terjerumus dalam judi, suci tingkah lakunya, dan cekap dalam pekerjaan. Orang seperti ini, berdiri dekat pemerintah, melindungi negeri dengan akhlak dan kecekapan mereka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a king’s inner circle should be chosen by moral and practical qualifications: virtue, good lineage and courage, wisdom without envy, freedom from gambling, purity, and competence. Such attendants protect the king and the state by preventing corruption, intrigue, and reckless habits.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on governance. Here he specifies the traits required in those who remain close to the king—his side-attendants and courtiers—so that the ruler’s decisions and administration are supported by trustworthy, disciplined, and capable people.