Shloka 19
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
यस्य नारतों जनपद: संनिकर्षगत: सदा । अक्षुद्र: सत्यथालम्बी स राजा राज्यभाग्भवेत्,जिसका देश दुखी न हो तथा सदा समीपवर्ती बना रहे, जो स्वयं भी छोटे विचारका न होकर सदा सन्मार्गका अवलम्बन करनेवाला हो, वही राजा राज्यका भागी होता है
yasya nārto janapadaḥ saṃnikarṣa-gataḥ sadā | akṣudraḥ satya-thālambī sa rājā rājya-bhāg bhavet ||
भीष्म उवाच—यस्य जनपदः सदा न दुःखितो भवति, प्रजाश्च तस्य नित्यं संनिकर्षगताः स्युः; योऽक्षुद्रः सत्यधर्मपथावलम्बी च, स एव राजा राज्यभाग्भवति।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler is legitimate only when he ensures the people are not distressed, keeps the realm securely within his protective governance, avoids petty-mindedness, and upholds truth and the righteous path; sovereignty is framed as a moral entitlement grounded in public welfare and integrity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira the standards of kingship, defining who truly deserves to rule by pointing to the condition of the subjects and the ruler’s character—closeness in protection, magnanimity, and steadfast truth.