Verse 7.58

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

सर्वेषां तु विशिष्टेन ब्राह्मणेन विपश्चिता ।
मन्त्रयेत् परमं मन्त्रं राजा षाड्गुण्यसंयुतम् ॥ ५८ ॥

sarveṣāṃ tu viśiṣṭena brāhmaṇena vipaścitā |
mantrayet paramaṃ mantraṃ rājā ṣāḍguṇyasaṃyutam || 58 ||

With the learned Brāhmaṇa, however, who is the most distinguished of them all, the king shall discuss the highest secrets pertaining to the six-fold state-craft.—(58)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Learned’—highly educated, well versed in the science of polity.

“He shall discuss the highest secret’—what has to be guarded in absolute: secrecy —‘pertaining to the sixfold state-craft

The Brāhmaṇa is, as a rule, possessed of keener intelligence, and being highly virtuous, is absolutely trustworthy.—(58)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 406);—and in Vīramitrodaya (Rājanīti, p. 178).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Yājñavalkya (1.311).—‘With these he should take counsel, specially with the Brāhmaṇa.’

Kāmandaka (11.78).—‘After having weighed the opinions expressed by the councillors, he shall act upon that counsel which is proposed by the highly intelligent, well-wishing and numerously supported minister who always acts according to the scriptures.’

Kātyāyana (Vīramitrodaya-Rājanīti, p. 178).—(See under 54.)