Shloka 83
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
नित्यमर्थेषु सर्वेषु राजा कुर्वीत मन्त्रिण: । अच्छे कुलमें उत्पन्न, शीलवान्, इशारे समझनेवाले, निल्लुरतारहित (दयालु), देशकालके विधानको समझनेवाले और स्वामीके अभीष्ट कार्यकी सिद्धि तथा हित चाहनेवाले मनुष्योंको राजा सदा सभी कार्योंके लिये अपना मन्त्री बनावे,इति श्रीमहा भारते शान्तिपर्वणि राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वणि सभ्यादिलक्षणकथने त्रय्शीतितमो<5ध्याय:
nityam artheṣu sarveṣu rājā kurvīta mantriṇaḥ |
Bhishma berkata: “Dalam segala urusan negara, raja hendaklah sentiasa melantik para menteri—orang yang lahir daripada keturunan baik, berakhlak mulia, cepat menangkap isyarat, bebas daripada kekejaman (berbelas kasihan), mahir menimbang aturan tempat dan waktu, serta setia menunaikan kehendak baginda sambil menginginkan kesejahteraan sejatinya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must rely on qualified ministers in every affair; the ideal counsellor combines good character, perceptiveness, compassion, contextual judgment (place and time), and loyal commitment to both the ruler’s aims and his genuine welfare.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on royal duty, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on governance, here specifying the traits by which a king should choose and appoint his ministers.