Shloka 4
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
सर्व वैनयिकं कृत्वा विनयज्ञो बृहस्पतिम् । दक्षिणानन्तरो भूत्वा प्रणम्य विधिपूर्वकम्
Bhīṣma uvāca: sarva-vainayikaṃ kṛtvā vinaya-jño bṛhaspatim | dakṣiṇānantaro bhūtvā praṇamya vidhi-pūrvakam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Raja itu, mahir dalam adab dan kerendahan hati, melaksanakan setiap tata cara penghormatan dalam menyambut Bṛhaspati. Berdiri di sebelah kanannya dan setelah menyempurnakan segala bentuk penghormatan yang ditetapkan, baginda menunduk sujud menurut tertib upacara. Demi kesejahteraan seluruh rakyat dan menginginkan kebahagiaan para subjeknya, baginda lalu bertanya kepada Bṛhaspati yang saleh tentang kaedah yang benar dalam mentadbir kerajaan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Right governance begins with vinaya—humble, rule-guided respect toward wise teachers. The verse frames political inquiry (how to rule) as ethically grounded: a king seeking public welfare must first embody discipline, courtesy, and proper conduct before receiving instruction on rājadharma.
A king receives Bṛhaspati with full ceremonial respect—standing appropriately, completing the customary honors, and bowing according to prescribed rules—then, wishing for his subjects’ happiness, prepares to question Bṛhaspati about the correct principles and methods of ruling.