Shloka 27
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
कुलप्रकृतिदेशानां धर्मज्ञान् मृदुभाषिण: । मध्ये वयसि निर्दोषान् हिते युक्तानविक्लवान्
kulaprakṛtideśānāṁ dharmajñān mṛdubhāṣiṇaḥ | madhye vayasi nirdoṣān hite yuktān aviklavan |
毗湿摩说道：国王应当把一切政务只托付给那些通晓家族、性情与地域之义务与习俗法度的人；言辞温和的人；少壮之时行止无瑕的人；专注于有益之事而不为恐惧与骚动所动摇的人。如此之士——无贪、受过良好教养、能自制、安住于达摩，并能护持正义与物质福祉（阿尔塔）——才堪任一切王事。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should appoint to public responsibilities only those whose character and competence are proven: they know dharma as shaped by lineage and local custom, speak gently, have a clean record, pursue the common good, remain steady under pressure, and are not driven by greed.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma continues advising the king on statecraft—here specifying the moral and practical qualifications of trusted officials and agents to whom royal work should be delegated.