Shloka 5
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
विधिं पप्रच्छ राज्यस्य सर्वलोकहिते रत: । प्रजानां सुखमन्विच्छन् धर्मशीलं बृहस्पतिम्
bhīṣma uvāca | vidhiṁ papraccha rājyasya sarvalokahite rataḥ | prajānāṁ sukham anvicchan dharmaśīlaṁ bṛhaspatim ||
भीष्म उवाच—सर्वलोकहिते रतः स राजा राज्यस्य विधिं पप्रच्छ। प्रजानां सुखमन्विच्छन् धर्मशीलं बृहस्पतिं समुपेत्य राज्यशासनस्य धर्म्यां नीतिं विधिं च पप्रच्छ—कथं धर्मानुसारं लोकहिताय च राज्यं प्रवर्तितव्यमिति।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kingship is justified and guided by dharma: the ruler should seek the happiness and welfare of the people and therefore consult the wise about the proper methods of governance rather than ruling by impulse or self-interest.
Bhishma describes a king devoted to public welfare approaching the sage Brihaspati and formally asking him how to administer the kingdom according to proper rule and righteous conduct.