Shloka 23
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
संगृहीतमनुष्यश्न यो राजा राजधर्मवित् । षड्वर्ग प्रतिगृह्लाति स धर्मफलमश्लुते
saṅgṛhītamanuṣyaś ca yo rājā rājadharmavit | ṣaḍvargaṃ pratigṛhṇāti sa dharmaphalam aśnute ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਜੋ ਰਾਜਾ ਰਾਜ-ਧਰਮ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈ, ਯੋਗ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਕੱਠਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਸੰਭਾਲਦਾ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਮੌਕੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਛੇ ਉਪਾਅ—ਸੰਧਿ, ਵਿਗ੍ਰਹ, ਯਾਨ, ਆਸਨ, ਦ੍ਵੈਧੀਭਾਵ ਅਤੇ ਸਮਾਸ਼੍ਰਯ—ਵਰਤਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਧਰਮ-ਫਲ ਦਾ ਭਾਗੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler earns the fruits of dharma by combining ethical kingship with practical wisdom: supporting capable and good people, and applying the six strategic measures (peace, war, march, staying, double policy, and alliance/shelter) appropriately to protect the realm.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma continues advising on ideal governance, stating that a king who maintains a strong circle of worthy persons and uses the recognized tools of diplomacy and strategy according to time and circumstance is truly righteous and gains dharmic merit.