Shloka 22

Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)

Devanagari script

परीक्ष्य च गुणान्‌ नित्यं प्रौदभावान्‌ धुरंधरान्‌ | पज्चोपधाव्यतीतांश्व कुर्याद्‌ राजार्थकारिण:

Transliteration

parīkṣya ca guṇān nityaṃ praudhabhāvān dhuraṃdharān | pañcopadhāvyatītāṃś ca kuryād rājārthakāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“国王应当恒常考察那些判断成熟、能担重任之人的德才。唯有顺利通过五重考验者，方可任命为代行王事之臣属。”

Word by Word

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), कर्तरि, absolutive (gerund)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• गुणान्: qualities/merits
• गुणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• नित्यं: always/constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• प्रौढभावान्: of mature disposition
• प्रौढभावान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रौढभाव
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• धुरंधरान्: capable/burden-bearing (competent)
• धुरंधरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धुरंधर
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च

• उपधात्: from the (five) stratagems/approaches
• उपधात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपधा
• Form: feminine, ablative, plural

• व्यतीतान्: gone beyond; free from
• व्यतीतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यतीत
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), masculine, accusative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कुर्यात्: should appoint/should make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: विधिलिङ्, optative, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• राजार्थकारिणः: those who act for the king’s purpose (royal agents)
• राजार्थकारिणः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजार्थकारिन्
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• king (rājā)
• royal agents/officials (rājārthakāriṇaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must not appoint people to sensitive state duties merely on reputation or proximity; he should continuously evaluate their virtues and competence, and select only those who have proven themselves through rigorous tests of character and reliability.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance: the king should scrutinize candidates for responsibility and employ only those who have passed a fivefold examination (pañcopadhā) before entrusting them with royal business.