Shloka 28

Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)

Devanagari script

कुलीन: शीलसम्पन्नस्तितिक्षुरविकत्थन: । शुरक्षार्याश्न विद्वांश्व प्रतिपत्तिविशारद:

Transliteration

kulīnaḥ śīlasampannastitikṣur avikatthanaḥ | śūraḥ kṣāryaś ca vidvāṁś ca pratipattiviśāradaḥ ||

Translation

ଯେମାନେ କୁଳୀନ, ଶୀଳସମ୍ପନ୍ନ, ସହନଶୀଳ, ମିଥ୍ୟା ଆତ୍ମପ୍ରଶଂସାରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ, ଶୂର, ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ବିଦ୍ୱାନ ଏବଂ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ-ଅକର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ବିଚାରରେ ପାରଦର୍ଶୀ—ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ମନ୍ତ୍ରିପଦରେ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍। ସେମାନେ ତୁମର ସମସ୍ତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ନିଯୁକ୍ତ ହେବାକୁ ଯୋଗ୍ୟ। ସତ୍କାରପୂର୍ବକ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ସୁଖ-ସୁବିଧା ଓ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ସାଧନ ଦିଅ; ଏପରି ଆଦରରେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କଲେ ସେମାନେ ଶାସନକାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ତୁମର ଉତ୍ତମ ସହାୟକ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହେବେ।

Word by Word

• कुलीनः: well-born, of noble family
• कुलीनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शीलसम्पन्नः: endowed with good conduct/character
• शीलसम्पन्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीलसम्पन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तितिक्षुः: patient, forbearing
• तितिक्षुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तितिक्षु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अविकत्थनः: not boastful, not given to self-praise
• अविकत्थनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकत्थन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूरः: brave, heroic
• शूरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षार्यः: worthy of honor/respect (honourable)
• क्षार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षार्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विद्वान्: learned man, wise person
• विद्वान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिपत्तिविशारदः: skilled in judgment/decision (discerning duty and non-duty)
• प्रतिपत्तिविशारदः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिपत्तिविशारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king should select ministers by virtue and competence—nobility of conduct, patience, humility (no boasting), courage, learning, and sound practical judgment—and then sustain them with honor and adequate support so they can serve effectively.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma is advising the ruler on statecraft: who is fit to be appointed as a minister and how such counselors should be treated to ensure stable and capable governance.