Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

नापरीक्ष्य महीपाल: सचिवं कर्तुमर्हति । अकुलीननराकीर्णो न राजा सुखमेधते

Transliteration

na parīkṣya mahīpālaḥ sacivaṃ kartum arhati | akulīnanarākīrṇo na rājā sukham edhate ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：“君王不可不经考验便任命大臣。若统治者周遭尽是品行卑劣、门第不正之人，则既不得安乐，亦难以兴盛；国政因不肖之谋而日渐衰败。”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अपरीक्ष्य: without examining
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परीक्ष्
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā-lyap), indeclinable

• महीपालः: the king (protector of the earth)
• महीपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• सचिवम्: a minister
• सचिवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• कर्तुम्: to make/appoint
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• अर्हति: is fit/ought
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present tense, parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• अकुलीननराकीर्णः: surrounded by low-born men
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुलीननराकीर्ण
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• एधते: prospers/thrives
• Type: Verb
• Root: एध्
• Form: Present tense, ātmanepada, 3rd person, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

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

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must appoint ministers only after careful examination; unworthy or ill-qualified associates undermine a king’s happiness and prosperity by corrupting counsel and administration.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on principles of statecraft, emphasizing scrutiny and merit in choosing close advisers.