Shloka 32
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
आत्मा देशश्व कालकभ्षाप्युपाया: कृत्यमेव च | सहाया: कारणं चैव षड्वर्गो नीतिज: स्मृत:,ब्रह्माजीके नीतिशास्त्रमें आत्मा, देश, काल, उपाय, कार्य और सहायक--इन छ: वर्गोंका वर्णन है। ये छहों नीतिद्वारा संचालित होनेपर उन्नतिके कारण होते हैं
ātmā deśaś ca kālaś cāpy upāyāḥ kṛtyam eva ca | sahāyāḥ kāraṇaṃ caiva ṣaḍvargo nītijaḥ smṛtaḥ ||
ଆତ୍ମା (ନିଜ ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ), ଦେଶ, କାଳ, ଉପାୟ, କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ, ସହାୟ ଓ କାରଣ—ନୀତିଶାସ୍ତ୍ରରେ ଏହିମାନଙ୍କୁ ବର୍ଗ ଭାବେ ସ୍ମରଣ କରାଯାଏ। ସୁନୀତି ଦ୍ୱାରା ପରିଚାଳିତ ହେଲେ ଏହିମାନେ ହିଁ ସିଦ୍ଧି ଓ ଉନ୍ନତିର ଆଧାର ହୁଅନ୍ତି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethical governance depends on assessing a structured set of factors—one’s own capability, the land, timing, chosen methods, the concrete objective, supportive allies, and the underlying cause. Sound nīti coordinates these so that action leads to prosperity rather than harm.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma is teaching principles of policy and governance. Here he summarizes a classical framework of six (or sixfold) considerations that a ruler should evaluate before acting.