Shloka 36
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
एतान् सहायॉल्लिप्से था: सर्वास्वापत्सु भारत | भरतनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! मन्त्रियोंको
bhīṣma uvāca | etān sahāyān lipsethāḥ sarvāsv āpatsu bhārata | bharatanandana yudhiṣṭhira mantriṇaḥ atyantaśūravīrapuruṣān vidvān brāhmaṇān pūrṇatayā saṃtuṣṭarahitān sarvakāryeṣu utsāhavataś ca—etān sarvān āpatsu sahāyān kartum icchet | yo 'mitraiḥ saha sambaddho na paurān bahu manyate | asuhṛt tādṛśo jñeyo na mantraṃ śrotum arhati ||
毗湿摩说道：“噢，婆罗多族的后裔！凡遭困厄之时，当求此等为助：明智之大臣，勇武而功业可证之士，博学的婆罗门，知足自守之人（故不易为利所买），以及于诸务皆勤勉奋发者。愿使此辈皆为汝在灾难中的依凭。然若有人与汝之仇敌相连，又不敬重本国百姓，当知其非真友；此人亦不配聆听机密谋议。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In crises, a king should rely on competent and virtuous supporters—wise ministers, brave men, learned Brahmins, contented (incorruptible) persons, and energetic workers—while excluding from confidential counsel anyone tied to enemies or indifferent to the welfare of the king’s own citizens.
During Bhishma’s instruction on rājadharma in the Śānti Parva, he advises Yudhishthira on selecting trustworthy helpers and on safeguarding state secrets by denying access to counsel to those with enemy connections or lacking respect for the realm’s people.