sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājan satataṁ priya-vādinaḥ |
apriyasya tu pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ || 189 ||
Many can be found who always speak agreeable words. But very rare are the speaker and the
hearer of disagreeable words that are beneficial.
o hi dharmaṁ vyapāśritya hitvā bhartuḥ priyāpriye |
apriyāṇyāha pathyāni tena rājā sahāyavān || 190 ||
That advisor is a real asset who, without regarding what is agreeable or disagreeable to his
employer but keeping Dharma alone in view, says what is unpalatable but beneficial.
prajñā-vṛddhaṁ dharma-vṛddhaṁ svabandhuṁ vidyā-vṛddhaṁ vayasā cāpi vṛddham |
kāryākārye pūjayitvā prasādya yaḥ sampṛcchen na sa muhyet kadācit || 191 ||
Honouring and gratifying your friends that are eminent in wisdom, virtue, learning and years,
you should ask their advice about what should be done and what shouldn't be done, acting
thus you will never be led astray.
ekaṁ viṣa-raso hanti śastreṇaikaśca vadhyate |
sa-rāṣṭraṁ sa-prajaṁ hanti rājānaṁ mantra-viśravaḥ || 192 ||
Poison kills but one person, and a weapon also kills but one; wicked advice however, can
destroy an entire kingdom with king and subjects.
catvāri rājñā tu mahā-balena varjyānyāhuḥ paṇḍitas tāni vidyāt |
alpa prajñaiḥ saha mantraṁ na kuryān na dīrghasūtrair ālasaiścāraṇaiśca || 193 ||
The learned have declared that the elite, although powerful, should never consult with these
four, viz., those with limited understanding of the subject, procrastinators, the indolent and sycophants.
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