Shloka 5

विद्यास्वभिविनीतानां दान्तानां मृदुभाषिणाम्‌ | श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नानां सदाक्षरविदां सताम्‌,जो विनीत भावसे विद्याध्ययन करते हैं, इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखते हैं और मीठे वचन बोलते हैं, जो शास्त्रज्ञान और सदाचार दोनोंसे सम्पन्न हैं, अविनाशी परमात्माको जाननेवाले सत्पुरुष हैं, तात युधिष्ठिर! सभाओंमें बोलते समय हंससमूहोंकी भाँति जिनके मुखसे मेघके समान गम्भीर स्वरसे मनोहर मंगलमयी एवं अच्छे ढंगसे कही गयी बातें सुनायी देती हैं, उन ब्राह्मणोंको ही मैं चाहता हूँ। यदि राजा उन महात्माओंकी बातें सुननेकी इच्छा रखे तो वे उसे इहलोक और परलोकमें भी सुख पहुँचानेवाली होती हैं

vidyāsv abhivinītānāṃ dāntānāṃ mṛdubhāṣiṇām | śrutavṛttopapannānāṃ sadākṣaravidāṃ satām ||

Bhishma disse: “Eu prezo aqueles brâmanes que foram verdadeiramente disciplinados pelo estudo: senhores de si, com os sentidos refreados, de fala suave, dotados tanto do saber das escrituras quanto da reta conduta, e firmes no Supremo imperecível. Ó Yudhishthira, nas assembleias eles falam como um bando de cisnes: com gravidade profunda, semelhante ao som das nuvens de chuva, e com palavras belas, auspiciosas e claramente proferidas. Se um rei deseja ouvi-los, seu conselho traz felicidade e bem-estar neste mundo e no outro.”

विद्यासुin/among the sciences (branches of learning)
विद्यासु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
अभिविनीतानाम्of those well-disciplined / well-trained
अभिविनीतानाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअभिविनीत
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
दान्तानाम्of the self-controlled
दान्तानाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootदान्त
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
मृदुभाषिणाम्of those who speak gently
मृदुभाषिणाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमृदुभाषिन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नानाम्of those endowed with learning (śruta) and conduct (vṛtta)
श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नानाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रुत-वृत्त-उपपन्न
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सदाक्षरविदाम्of the knowers of the imperishable (Brahman) / of true syllables
सदाक्षरविदाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसत्-अक्षर-विद्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सताम्of the good/virtuous people
सताम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
Y
Yudhishthira
B
Brahmins (brāhmaṇāḥ)
A
assembly (sabhā)

Educational Q&A

Bhishma teaches that the most valuable advisors are those whose learning produces humility and discipline: they restrain the senses, speak gently, unite scripture with ethical conduct, and are grounded in imperishable truth. Such people benefit rulers not only politically but also morally and spiritually, bringing welfare in both this life and the next.

In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and ideal governance. Here he describes the kind of Brahmin-sages a king should seek in his court—men of learning, character, and dignified speech—whose counsel is auspicious and beneficial.