Shloka 53
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
तेषां त्रयाणां विविध॑ विमर्श विबुद्धय चित्तं विनिवेश्य तत्र । स्वनिश्ष॒यं त॑ परनिश्चष॒यं च निवेदयेदुत्तरमन्त्रकाले,राजा पहले सदा तीनों मन्त्रियोंकी पृथक्ू-पृथक् सलाह जानकर उसपर मनोयोगपूर्वक विचार करे। तत्पश्चात् बादमें होनेवाली मन्त्रणाके समय अपने तथा दूसरोंके निश्चयको राजगुरुकी सेवामें निवेदन करे
teṣāṃ trayāṇāṃ vividhaṃ vimarśaṃ vibuddhayaś cittaṃ viniveśya tatra | svaniścayaṃ ca paraniścayaṃ ca nivedayed uttara-mantra-kāle ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Matapos munang matiyak nang hiwa-hiwalay ang sari-saring payo ng tatlong ministro, dapat itu’y pagtuunan ng hari ng isip na may malinaw na pag-unawa. Pagkaraan, sa susunod na pagdinig ng sanggunian, dapat niyang iharap—sa harap ng gurong panghari—ang sarili niyang pasya at ang mga pasya ng iba. Ang diwa ng aral ay pamamahalang may disiplina: maingat na pakikinig, mapagnilay na paghatol, at pananagutang pagbubunyag sa payuhan, sa halip na padalus-dalos o palihim na pagpapasya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should hear counsel from multiple advisers separately, reflect with a clear mind, and then present both his own and others’ conclusions in an accountable forum (before the royal preceptor) during the next stage of deliberation—promoting prudence, transparency, and disciplined governance.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, he outlines a practical procedure for royal decision-making: gather distinct opinions from three ministers, contemplate them carefully, and then formally communicate the resulting judgments at the subsequent council, with the guru as an ethical anchor.