Shloka 186
सर्वान् सुपरिणीतांस्तान् कारयेथा युधिष्ठिर । युधिष्ठिर! जो धर्मज्ञ, धैर्यवान् और संग्राममें कभी पीठ न दिखानेवाले शूरवीर हैं, जो राज्यमें रहकर जीविका चलाते हैं अथवा राजाके आश्रित रहकर जीते हैं तथा जो मन्त्रिगण और तटस्थवर्गके लोग हैं, वे सब तुम्हारी प्रशंसा करें या निन्दा, तुम्हें सबका सत्कार ही करना चाहिये
sarvān supariṇītāṁs tān kārayethā yudhiṣṭhira |
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó Yudhiṣṭhira, deves assegurar que todos aqueles homens bem treinados e de boa conduta sejam devidamente empregados e amparados. Quer te louvem, quer te critiquem—os versados no dharma, firmes na coragem e que jamais voltam as costas na batalha; os que ganham a vida residindo no reino ou vivem sob a proteção do rei; bem como os ministros e as partes neutras—deves honrar a todos. O dever do rei é sustentar e respeitar tais pessoas sem se deixar mover por aprovação ou censura.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should honor and properly employ worthy people—dharma-knowers, steadfast warriors, dependents, ministers, and neutral parties—without being influenced by whether they praise or criticize him. Respect for merit and social support is a central duty of kingship (rājadharma).
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on statecraft and righteous rule after the war. Here he emphasizes impartial conduct: the king must maintain dignity and fairness by honoring key social and political groups regardless of their opinions about him.