Shloka 9
मयूरवद्राजधर्मः (Mayūra-vat Rāja-dharma) — The Peacock-Model of Protective Kingship
साधव: कुलजा: शूरा ज्ञानवन्तो5नसूयका: । अक्षद्रा: शुचयो दक्षा:स्युर्नरा: पारिपाश्वका:
bhīṣma uvāca | sādhavaḥ kulajāḥ śūrā jñānavanto 'nasūyakāḥ | akṣadrāḥ śucayo dakṣāḥ syur narāḥ pāripārśvakāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Italaga ng hari bilang mga kasamang malapit sa kanya ang mga taong mabuti, marangal ang pinagmulan, at matatapang; may pag-unawa at walang inggit; hindi nalululong sa sugal, malinis ang asal, at mahusay sa gawain. Ang mga ganitong tao, na nasa tabi ng pinuno, ay nag-iingat sa kaharian sa pamamagitan ng dangal at kakayahan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a king’s inner circle should be chosen by moral and practical qualifications: virtue, good lineage and courage, wisdom without envy, freedom from gambling, purity, and competence. Such attendants protect the king and the state by preventing corruption, intrigue, and reckless habits.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on governance. Here he specifies the traits required in those who remain close to the king—his side-attendants and courtiers—so that the ruler’s decisions and administration are supported by trustworthy, disciplined, and capable people.