Shloka 42
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्न: प्रकृतिज्ञ: परात्मनो: । सुहृदात्मसमो राज्ञ: स मन्त्र श्रोतुमहति
jñāna-vijñāna-sampannaḥ prakṛti-jñaḥ parātmanoḥ | suhṛd ātma-samaḥ rājñaḥ sa mantraṃ śrotum arhati ||
ଯେ ଜ୍ଞାନ ଓ ବ୍ୟବହାରିକ ବିବେକରେ ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ, ନିଜ ପକ୍ଷ ଓ ପ୍ରତିପକ୍ଷର ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରକୃତିକୁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଭାବେ ପରଖିପାରେ, ଏବଂ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଆତ୍ମାସମ ହିତେଷୀ ସୁହୃଦ୍ ହୁଏ—ସେଇ ଗୁପ୍ତ ମନ୍ତ୍ରଣା ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ଯୋଗ୍ୟ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Confidential political counsel should be shared only with a person who combines theoretical knowledge with practical wisdom, can assess the temperaments of allies and opponents, and is a loyal well-wisher as trustworthy as the king himself—so that policy remains both effective and ethically safeguarded.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises the king about whom to admit into secret deliberations, defining the qualifications of a proper confidant for sensitive counsel.