Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)
त्वादृशं हि कुले जातमनृशंसं बहुश्रुतम् । अमात्यं को न कुर्वीत राज्यप्रणयकोविदम्
tvādṛśaṃ hi kule jātam anṛśaṃsaṃ bahuśrutam | amātyaṃ ko na kurvīta rājya-praṇaya-kovidam ||
تمہارا جنم اعلیٰ خاندان میں ہوا ہے۔ تم رحم دل ہو، بہت سے شاستروں کے عالم ہو اور سلطنت کے نظم و نسق اور سیاستِ مُلک کی فنون میں ماہر ہو۔ تم جیسے لائق مرد کو کون اپنا وزیر نہیں بنائے گا؟
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma highlights the ethical and practical qualifications of an ideal minister: noble upbringing, compassion (non-cruelty), broad learning in śāstra, and proven competence in governance. Such virtues make a person naturally worthy of trust and appointment.
In the instruction on dharma and governance in the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma addresses a listener with praise, emphasizing that someone possessing humane character, learning, and administrative skill is exactly the kind of person any ruler would appoint as a minister.