Shloka 27
Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)
(ज्ञातीनामनवज्ञानं भृत्येष्वशठता सदा | नैपुण्यं चार्थचर्यासु यस्यैते तस्थ सा मही ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
ñātīnām anavajñānaṁ bhṛtyeṣv aśaṭhatā sadā |
naipuṇyaṁ cārthacaryāsu yasyaitē tastha sā mahī ||
ālasyaṁ caiva nidrā ca vyasanāny atihāsyatā |
yasyaitāni na vidyante tasyaiva suciraṁ mahī ||
vṛddhasevī mahotsāho varṇānāṁ caiva rakṣitā |
dharmacaryā sadā yasya tasyeyaṁ suciraṁ mahī ||
nītimārgānusaraṇaṁ nityam utthānam eva ca |
ripūṇām anavajñānaṁ tasyeyaṁ suciraṁ mahī ||
utthānaṁ caiva daivaṁ ca tayor nānātvaṁ eva ca |
manunā varṇitaṁ pūrvaṁ vakṣye śṛṇu tadeva hi ||
utthānaṁ hi narendrāṇāṁ bṛhaspatir abhāṣata |
nayānayavidhānajñaḥ sadā bhava kurūdvaha ||
durhṛdāṁ chidradarśī yaḥ suhṛdām upakāravān |
viśeṣavic ca bhṛtyānāṁ sa rājyaphalam aśnute ||
sarvasaṅgrahaṇe yukto nṛpo bhavati yaḥ sadā |
utthānaśīlo mitrāḍhyaḥ sa rājā rājasattamaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“不轻慢宗亲，对臣仆恒常无欺，并善于经世理财、处置政务者，大地便稳固地归其统御。凡其身无懒惰、无嗜睡过度、无恶习沉溺、无轻佻戏谑者，大地便久与之相守。侍奉长老，志气宏大，护持四姓（四种社会阶序），常勤于行持达摩者，大地亦久安其下。循良政之道，恒常勤勉，不敢轻敌者，亦能使大地长久归附。 古之摩奴曾论人力、天命及二者诸多差别；我今当陈述——汝且听之。因为布里哈斯帕提教诲诸王：持久之努力不可或缺。噫，俱卢之最胜者，当常知正政之法与其反面之戒。能察恶意者之隙，报答友人之恩，并洞悉臣仆各自才用者，便能享受王权之果。那位常以统摄邦国为务，精勤不怠，盟友众多的国王——他便是诸王之最上者。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kingdom endures under a ruler who combines ethical restraint (no contempt for kin, no deceit toward servants, devotion to dharma) with practical competence (skill in administration, constant initiative, vigilance toward enemies, and strong alliances).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the Kuru king (Yudhiṣṭhira) by listing traits that stabilize sovereignty, then invokes earlier authorities—Manu on effort and fate, and Bṛhaspati on royal exertion and policy—to reinforce his counsel.