Shloka 21
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
रूपवर्णस्वरोपेतस्तितिक्षुरनसूयक: । कुलीन: शीलसम्पन्न: स ते स्यात् प्रत्यनन्तर:,जिसका रूप-रंग सुन्दर और स्वर मीठा हो, जो क्षमाशील हो, निन्दक न हो तथा कुलीन और शीलवान् हो, वह तुम्हारा प्रधान सचिव होना चाहिये
rūpavarṇasvaropetastitikṣuranasūyakaḥ | kulīnaḥ śīlasampannaḥ sa te syāt praty-anantaraḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Lantiklah sebagai setiausaha utama—orang yang paling dekat dalam musyawarah—dia yang berwajah menyenangkan, berkulit elok, bersuara manis; penyabar, bebas daripada suka mencari-cari salah dan iri hati; berdarah bangsawan serta berakhlak mulia.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that a ruler’s closest adviser should be chosen primarily for character: patience, freedom from envy and fault-finding, noble conduct, and refined speech—qualities that preserve trust, discretion, and ethical governance.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma (duties of kings), Bhīṣma is advising the king on selecting key officials, specifying the virtues required for the principal secretary who remains nearest in counsel.