Shloka 23
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
ऋच्विग्वा यदि वा5<चार्य: सखा वात्यन्तसंस्तुत: । गृहे वसेदमात्यस्ते स स्थात् परमपूजित:
ṛcigvā yadi vā ācāryaḥ sakhā vātyantasaṁstutaḥ | gṛhe vased amātyas te sa syāt paramapūjitaḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେ ତୁମ ଋତ୍ୱିଜ ହେଉ କି ଆଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ହେଉ କି ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରଶଂସିତ ମିତ୍ର ହେଉ—ଯଦି ସେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟସାଧନରେ ଯୋଗ୍ୟ, ସ୍ୱଭାବତଃ କରୁଣାଶୀଳ, ଏବଂ ସମ୍ମାନ-ଅପମାନରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦୁର୍ଭାବରହିତ—ତେବେ ସେ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଭାବେ ତୁମ ଗୃହରେ ବସୁ; ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପରମପୂଜ୍ୟ ଭାବେ ସମ୍ମାନ କରାଯାଉ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should appoint as minister a person of proven virtue—compassionate, capable, and free from resentment in honor or insult—and then honor such a counsellor highly, especially when he is a priest, teacher, or eminent friend.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and dharma, Bhīṣma advises the listener on whom to keep close in the household as a trusted minister and how such a person should be treated.