Shloka 19

Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)

Devanagari script

सम्बन्धिपुरुषैराप्तैरभिजातै: स्वदेशजै: । अहार्यरव्यभीचारै: सर्वश: सुपरीक्षितै:

Transliteration

sambandhipuruṣair āptair abhijātaiḥ svadeśajaiḥ | ahāryair avyabhicāraiḥ sarvaśaḥ suparīkṣitaiḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma berkata: Hendaklah seseorang bersandar pada orang yang mempunyai pertalian kekeluargaan, yang dipercayai dan rapat, berketurunan serta berakhlak baik, dan berasal dari negeri sendiri—orang yang tidak dapat dibeli dengan rasuah atau diselewengkan, teguh setia, dan telah diuji dengan sempurna dalam segala hal.

Word by Word

सम्बन्धि-पुरुषैःby related persons

आप्तैःby trusted (persons)

अभिजातैःby well-born (persons)

स्वदेशजैःby natives of one’s own country

अहार्य-रव्यभीचारैःby those whose conduct is not to be carried away (i.e., not swayed/unchangeable in behavior)

सर्वशःin every way; altogether

सुपरीक्षितैःby well-tested / thoroughly examined (persons)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches that positions of confidence and counsel should be given only to people whose loyalty and integrity are proven: those bound by stable ties, unbribable, unwavering, and thoroughly tested, so that dharma and the kingdom are not endangered by betrayal.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on how to choose dependable associates—emphasizing tested character, local rootedness, and resistance to corruption or disloyalty.