Shloka 31
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
विहीनं कर्मणान्यायं यः प्रगृह्नाति भूमिप: । उपायस्याविशेषज्ञं तद् वै क्षत्रं नपुंसकम्
vihīnaṃ karmaṇā nyāyaṃ yaḥ pragṛhṇāti bhūmipaḥ | upāyasyāviśeṣajñaṃ tad vai kṣatraṃ napuṃsakam ||
நற்கருமம் அற்றவனையும், நீதியுணர்வு இல்லாதவனையும், காரியத்தைச் சாதிக்கும் உபாயங்களை அறியாதவனையும் அமைச்சர் என ஏற்றுக் கொள்கிற அரசனின் க்ஷத்திரிய வலிமை உண்மையில் நபுஞ்சகமாக—பலனற்றதாக—ஆகும்।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal power becomes ineffective when a king relies on advisors who lack righteous conduct, justice, and strategic discernment; ethical competence in counsel is essential to legitimate and effective rule.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma warns about the consequences of poor ministerial selection, stating that a king who adopts an unjust and incompetent counselor renders his own sovereignty powerless.