Shloka 56
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
कृतज्ञं प्राज्ञमक्षुद्रं दृढभक्तिं जितेन्द्रियम् । धर्मनित्यं स्थितं नीत्यं मन्त्रिणं पूजयेन्नप:
kṛtajñaṃ prājñam akṣudraṃ dṛḍha-bhaktiṃ jitendriyam | dharma-nityaṃ sthitaṃ nītyaṃ mantriṇaṃ pūjayen nṛpaḥ ||
Vasumanā berkata: Raja wajar memuliakan sebagai menteri orang yang tahu berterima kasih, bijaksana, berjiwa besar dan tidak picik, teguh setia demi kesejahteraan raja, mampu mengawal diri, sentiasa teguh pada dharma, serta mantap dalam dasar dan siasah. Penasihat demikian menguatkan pemerintahan yang benar dan melindungi negeri daripada keputusan yang membawa kebinasaan.
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must choose and honor ministers of character: grateful, wise, noble-minded, loyal, self-controlled, dharma-centered, and skilled in policy. Such virtues make counsel trustworthy and governance stable.
In the Shānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and peace-time governance, Vasumanā lays down a criterion for royal administration: the king should respect and elevate a minister who embodies moral integrity and practical political wisdom.