Shloka 2
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
दुष्टामात्यसहायस्य च्युतमन्त्रस्य सर्वतः । राज्यात् प्रच्यवमानस्य गतिमग्ग्रामपश्यत:
duṣṭāmātyasahāyasya cyutamantrasya sarvataḥ | rājyāt pracyavamānasya gatim aggrām apaśyataḥ ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Kapag ang isang hari ay sinasandigan ng masasamang ministro, kapag ang kanyang payo at patakaran ay nagkakawatak-watak at nagugulo sa lahat ng panig, at kapag siya’y unti-unting nahuhulog mula sa kanyang kaharian, hindi na niya nakikita ang landas sa unahan—hindi niya matukoy ang daan tungo sa kaligtasan o ang wastong dapat gawin.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s stability depends on righteous advisers and sound counsel; when ministers are corrupt and policy collapses, the king loses clear direction and the kingdom inevitably declines. Ethical governance requires integrity in counsel and disciplined statecraft.
In the Śānti Parva’s discussion of rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira frames a political-ethical problem: a king, undermined by wicked ministers and failed counsel, is being driven from sovereignty and becomes unable to perceive a viable path forward.