Shloka 22

Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)

Devanagari script

परीक्ष्य च गुणान्‌ नित्यं प्रौदभावान्‌ धुरंधरान्‌ | पज्चोपधाव्यतीतांश्व कुर्याद्‌ राजार्थकारिण:

Transliteration

parīkṣya ca guṇān nityaṃ praudhabhāvān dhuraṃdharān | pañcopadhāvyatītāṃś ca kuryād rājārthakāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—రాజు ఎల్లప్పుడూ పరిపక్వమైన వివేకమున్న, బాధ్యత మోయగల ధురంధరుల గుణాలను పరిశీలించాలి. పంచవిధ పరీక్షలను దాటి నిలిచిన వారినే రాజకార్య నిర్వహకులుగా నియమించాలి.

Word by Word

परीक्ष्यhaving examined

चand

गुणान्qualities/merits

नित्यंalways/constantly

प्रौढभावान्of mature disposition

धुरंधरान्capable/burden-bearing (competent)

पञ्चfive

उपधात्from the (five) stratagems/approaches

व्यतीतान्gone beyond; free from

चand

कुर्यात्should appoint/should make

राजार्थकारिणःthose who act for the king’s purpose (royal agents)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

king (rājā)

royal agents/officials (rājārthakāriṇaḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must not appoint people to sensitive state duties merely on reputation or proximity; he should continuously evaluate their virtues and competence, and select only those who have proven themselves through rigorous tests of character and reliability.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance: the king should scrutinize candidates for responsibility and employ only those who have passed a fivefold examination (pañcopadhā) before entrusting them with royal business.