Shloka 53
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
तेषां त्रयाणां विविध॑ विमर्श विबुद्धय चित्तं विनिवेश्य तत्र । स्वनिश्ष॒यं त॑ परनिश्चष॒यं च निवेदयेदुत्तरमन्त्रकाले
teṣāṃ trayāṇāṃ vividhaṃ vimarśaṃ vibuddhayaś cittaṃ viniveśya tatra | svaniścayaṃ ca paraniścayaṃ ca nivedayed uttara-mantra-kāle ||
毗湿摩说：国王应先分别探明那三位大臣各自多样的意见，并以澄明的辨识之心加以审思。其后，在下一次议事之时，当在王师之前陈述——既陈己见之定论，亦陈他人之定论。其伦理旨趣在于自律的治国之道：谨听、深思而后断，并在议政中负责任地披陈，而非冲动决断或私密独断。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should hear counsel from multiple advisers separately, reflect with a clear mind, and then present both his own and others’ conclusions in an accountable forum (before the royal preceptor) during the next stage of deliberation—promoting prudence, transparency, and disciplined governance.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, he outlines a practical procedure for royal decision-making: gather distinct opinions from three ministers, contemplate them carefully, and then formally communicate the resulting judgments at the subsequent council, with the guru as an ethical anchor.