कर्मणां तु प्रशस्तानाम् अनुष्ठानं सुखावहम् ॥
तेषाम् एवाननुष्ठानं पश्चात्तापकरं महत् ॥
स्थानवृद्धिक्षयज्ञस्य षाड्गुण्यविदितात्मनः ॥
अनवज्ञातशीलस्य स्वाधीना पृथिवी नृप ॥
अमोघक्रोधहर्षस्य स्वयं कृत्यान्ववेक्षिणः ॥
आत्मप्रत्ययकोशस्य वसुधेयं वसुंधरा ॥
नाममात्रेण तुष्येत छत्रेण च महीपतिः ॥
भृत्येभ्यो विसृजेद् अर्थान् नैकः सर्वहरो भवेत् ॥
ब्राह्मणो ब्राह्मणं वेद भर्ता वेद स्त्रियं तथा ॥
अमात्यं नृपतिर् वेद राजा राजानम् एव च ॥
karmaṇāṃ tu praśastānām anuṣṭhānaṃ sukhāvaham ||
teṣām evānanuṣṭhānaṃ paścāttāpakaraṃ mahat ||
sthānavṛddhikṣayajñasya ṣāḍguṇyaviditātmanaḥ ||
anavajñātaśīlasya svādhīnā pṛthivī nṛpa ||
amoghakrodhaharṣasya svayaṃ kṛtyānvavekṣiṇaḥ ||
ātmapratyayakośasya vasudheyaṃ vasuṃdharā ||
nāmamātreṇa tuṣyeta chatreṇa ca mahīpatiḥ ||
bhṛtyebhyo visṛjed arthān naikaḥ sarvaharo bhavet ||
brāhmaṇo brāhmaṇaṃ veda bhartā veda striyaṃ tathā ||
amātyaṃ nṛpatir veda rājā rājānam eva ca ||
O king, never appoint a minister without first examining him thoroughly, for both the king's finances and the safekeeping of his counsels depend upon his minister. That king is the best of rulers whose ministers learn of his actions — undertaken for the sake of virtue, gain, and desire — only after they have been accomplished. A king whose counsels are kept secret undoubtedly looks forward to success. He who, out of ignorance, performs blameworthy acts loses his very life because of their unhappy consequences. Deeds worthy of praise are always easily performed. Neglect of such deeds leads to remorse. Just as a brahmin who has not studied the Vedas is unfit to officiate at a shraddha in honor of the ancestors, so too one who has not learned of the six measures of statecraft does not deserve a place in political counsel. O king, he who watches over increase, decrease, and surplus, who is versed in the six measures, and who knows himself as well, whose conduct is ever praised, will bring the whole earth under his sway.
69947017db95 · published Jul 17, 2026, 4:02:44 AM UTC
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The passage 5.38.21-25 develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace unfolds against the background of an already-approaching war. Here dharma reveals itself through speech, the choice of envoys, faithfulness to one's word, and the responsibility kings bear for the consequences of their decisions.