Shloka 50
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
मन्त्रगूढा हि राज्यस्य मन्त्रिणो ये मनीषिण: । मन्त्रसंहननो राजा मन्त्राज्ञानीतरे जना:
mantragūḍhā hi rājyasya mantriṇo ye manīṣiṇaḥ | mantrasaṃhananaḥ rājā mantrājñānītare janāḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—دانشمند وزیر ریاست کے رازدارانہ مشورے کو پوشیدہ رکھتے ہیں؛ کیونکہ مصلحت ہی راجا کا حفاظتی زرہ اور مجتمع قوت ہے۔ دوسرے لوگ—ارکان، خدام وغیرہ—مشاورت کے محض اعضا اور آلات ہیں، اس کے حقیقی رازدان نہیں۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethical governance depends on confidential, well-guarded counsel: wise ministers protect the kingdom by preserving secrecy, because strategic deliberation functions as the king’s defense and strength.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma advises the king on principles of administration, emphasizing that ministers must conceal state counsel and that not everyone involved in deliberations truly understands or should access it.