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Shloka 14

मयूरवद्राजधर्मः (Mayūra-vat Rāja-dharma) — The Peacock-Model of Protective Kingship

नाविद्यो नानजुः पाश्चे नाप्राज्ञो नामहाधन: । संग्राह्मो वसुधापालै भुत्यो भृत्यवतां वर

nāvidyo nānajuḥ pāśce nāprājño nāmahādhanaḥ | saṅgrāhyo vasudhāpālair bhṛtyo bhṛtyavatāṃ vara ||

毗湿摩说道:“诸养臣之人中最上者啊,护持大地的君王,不应收用无学、无直诚、愚昧或极度贫困之臣仆。此等之人不堪任重,反可能危及君主所当维系的秩序与安宁。”

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अविद्यःunlearned, without knowledge
अविद्यः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअविद्य (अ-विद्य)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
nor
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अनर्जुःnot straightforward, not simple/upright
अनर्जुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअनर्जु (अ-ऋजु)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पाश्चेuncertain (textual reading unclear)
पाश्चे:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपाश्च (uncertain reading)
nor
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अप्राज्ञःfoolish, unintelligent
अप्राज्ञः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअप्राज्ञ (अ-प्राज्ञ)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
nor
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महाधनःvery wealthy (lit. having great wealth)
महाधनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाधन (महा-धन)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
संग्राह्यःto be accepted/retained (as a servant)
संग्राह्यः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्-ग्रह् (धातु) → संग्राह्य (gerundive)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वसुधापालैःby kings, by rulers of the earth
वसुधापालैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवसुधापाल (वसुधा-पाल)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
भृत्यःservant, attendant
भृत्यः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभृत्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भृत्यवताम्of those who have servants
भृत्यवताम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootभृत्यवत्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
वरO best
वर:
TypeNoun
Rootवर
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
V
vasudhāpāla (king/ruler)
B
bhṛtya (retainer/servant)

Educational Q&A

A ruler must be discerning in appointing retainers: those lacking learning, integrity/straightforwardness, practical wisdom, or basic stability (extreme poverty) are unsuitable for entrusted duties, since poor character or incapacity can harm the kingdom’s welfare and dharma.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira on statecraft—here specifying the kinds of attendants a king should avoid retaining in his service.