Shloka 9

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

सचिवं देशकालज्ञं सत्त्वसंग्रहणे रतम्‌ । सततं युक्तमनसं हितैषिणमतन्द्रितम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | sacivaṁ deśa-kāla-jñaṁ sattva-saṅgrahaṇe ratam | satataṁ yukta-manasaṁ hitaiṣiṇam atandritam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Nhà vua nên đặt làm tể tướng người hiểu rõ thời thế và địa thế; chuyên tâm gom góp và duy trì nguồn lực cùng sức mạnh của quốc gia; tâm trí luôn được rèn kỷ luật và tỉnh thức; hết lòng vì lợi ích của quân vương; và không hề biếng nhác.”

Word by Word

• सचिवम्: minister, counsellor
• सचिवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देशकालज्ञम्: knowing place and time
• देशकालज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश-काल-ज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सत्त्वसंग्रहणे: in collecting/maintaining resources/forces
• सत्त्वसंग्रहणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व-संग्रहण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रतम्: engaged, devoted
• रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सततम्: always, constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• युक्तमनसम्: one whose mind is disciplined/controlled
• युक्तमनसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त-मनस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हितैषिणम्: well-wishing, seeking another's good
• हितैषिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित-एषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अतन्द्रितम्: untiring, vigilant, not lazy
• अतन्द्रितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तन्द्रित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• minister/counsellor (saciva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king should choose a minister who combines contextual intelligence (knowing place and time), disciplined attention, tireless vigilance, and genuine commitment to the ruler’s welfare—because effective and ethical governance depends on prudent judgment, resource stewardship, and self-controlled service.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma is advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in the broader frame) on criteria for appointing ministers, emphasizing practical competence and moral reliability as foundations of stable rule.