Shloka 22
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
न शक््यं हानमात्येन महत्त्वमनुशासितुम् । दुष्टामात्येन वा वीर शरीरपरिपन्थिना
na śakyaṃ hānamātyena mahattvam anuśāsitum | duṣṭāmātyena vā vīra śarīraparipanthinā ||
舍尔图拉说道：“君王之伟业，不能凭无能之臣而得以治理与维系；亦不能凭奸恶之臣——那等与君身为敌者——而得以治理。噢，勇士啊，没有可信的谋臣，统治者不可能独自统御广阔的国土；若大臣腐败，政事更将不可为，因为此人会把王权化作对君王与邦国的祸患。”
शार्टूल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective kingship depends on competent and virtuous ministers. A deficient minister cannot sustain royal greatness, and a corrupt minister becomes a direct threat to the ruler and the realm; therefore, wise counsel and integrity in advisers are essential to rājadharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Śārṭūla addresses a ‘hero’ and emphasizes the practical and moral necessity of good ministers: a king cannot rule a large kingdom alone, and wicked advisers make governance collapse and endanger the king’s life.