धौम्य is the Purohita of the Pandavas. In the Virata Parva, as Yudhistira along with wife and brothers decide to work as employees the kingdom of Virata, धौम्य gives advice to the Pandavas on the rules of conduct of an employee. What is the relevance of such a discussion in modern world? My sense is that it remains relevant even today. One may argue that we are no longer employees of a king and the feudal situation envisaged while working under a king is no longer applicable. At a superficial level, such a view may sound reasonable. However, the idea of conduct of an employee while working under an employer is not very different even today. One may replace king with a Corporate having a vision statement and the employee has to align his interest with that of the Corporate while working as an employee. Some principles of conflict of interest, ideas about loyalty, etc are as relevant today as they were relevant thousands of years back. I hope readers find this exchange useful.

धौम्य उवाच

विदिते चापि वक्तव्यं सुहृद्भिरनुरागतः | एष धर्मश्च कामश्च अर्थश्चैव  सनातन: ||

Said धौम्य – Inspite of you being knowledgeable, it is the धर्म of those who are close to you to give you advice out of their love for you. This is to be seen as सनातन धर्म following which one will obtain काम and अर्थ (pleasure and material prosperity)

अतोऽहमपि वक्ष्यामि हेतुमात्रं निबोधत | हन्तेमां राजवसतिं राजपुत्रा ब्रवीमि वः ||

यथा राजकुलं प्राप्य चरन्प्रेष्यो न रिष्यति | दुर्वसं त्वेव कौरव्या जानता राजवेश्मनि ||

For this reason, I shall advice you on matters that are in your interest. O राजपुत्र! I shall now tell you what you must do while living with a king and his family. If your conduct during your stay there is aligned to their interest, you will avoid all difficulties that you may face otherwise. O Kauravas! Even for those who are well-informed, working in a palace of a king may be seen as difficult.         

अमानितैः सुमानार्हा अज्ञातैः परिवत्सरम् | ततश्चतिर्दशे वर्षे चरिष्यथ यथासुखम् ।।

दिष्टद्वारो लभेद्द्वारं न च राजसु विश्वसेत् | तदेवासनमन्विच्छेद्यत्र नाभिषजेत्परः ||

Whether you are insulted or respected, you have to stay there for one year not sharing your identity with anyone. After that period, in the fourteenth year, you can act according to your pleasure. Take proper prior permission before meeting the king. Do not ever trust the king fully on any matter. Allow them to select their own seat and ensure that no one else occupies the seat where they wish to sit. 

नास्य यानं न पर्यङ्कं न पीठं न गजं रथम् | आरोहेत्संमतोऽस्मीति स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

अथ यत्रैनमासीनं शङ्केरन्दुष्टचारिणः | न तत्रोपविशेज्जातु स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

Thinking in a manner “I am the king’s favourite person”, one should never sit next to where the king sits, or his bed or wear his shoe or sit on his elephant or chariot – only such a person who takes these precautions can stay safely in the palace of a king. Only such a one can stay in the palace of a king who does not occupy a seat sitting where others who possess a wicked mind start suspecting the person. 

न चानुशिष्येद्राजानमपृच्छन्तं कदाचन | तूष्णीं त्वेनमुपासीत काले समभिपूजयन् ||

असूयन्ति हि राजानो जनाननृतवादिनः | तथैव चावमन्यन्ते मन्त्रिणं वादिनं मृषा ||

Do not offer unasked advice to a king about his duties. Silently serve a king as aligned to his interest and take resort to praise of the king at the appropriate time. Kings do not like those who either speak untruth and also insult those who resort to unnecessary talk. 

नैषां दारेषु कुर्वीत मैत्रीं प्राज्ञः कथंचन | अन्तःपुरचरा ये च द्वेष्टि यानहिताश्च ये ||

विदिते चास्य कुर्वीत कार्याणि सुलघून्यपि | एवं विचरतो राज्ञो न क्षतिर्जायते क्वचित् ||

Those who are smart will ensure that they will avoid unnecessary engagement with wife of the king and one must not even make friendship with those others who keep going to the room of the king’s wife. Also, one must avoid making friendship with those who seek harm of the king. Do even small actions with due knowledge of the king. Those who act in this manner will never face harm while working in the palace of a king. 

गच्छन्न्पि परां भूमिमपृष्टो ह्यनियोजितः। जात्यन्ध इव मन्येत मर्यादाम् अनुचिन्तयन्।।

न हि पुत्रं  न नप्तारं न भ्रातरमरिंदमाः। समतिक्रान्तमर्यादं पूजयन्ति नराधिपा:।।

If one gets a chance to sit on a higher seat, even then, till the king does not ask or does not offer the (higher) seat, keeping the general conduct of the palace in mind, act as if one is blind and do not even look at the higher seat in front of him. Keeping this expression in one’s conduct, wait for instructions from the king on what to do next. This is because those powerful kings show no consideration even to their sons, grandsons or brothers when they are found to disregard the dignity of the palace. 

यत्नाच्चोपचरेदेनमग्निवद्देववच्च ह | अनृतेनोपचीर्णो हि हिंस्यादेनमसंशयम् ||

In this world, take kings to be equivalent to fire and avoid close contact with them. Equally, do not ignore their presence or take them lightly and instead consider them as capable as a देवता who knows how to control himself as well as granting what you seek. Keep this in mind while serving a king. Do note that those who apply prattle or devious mindset while working for a king will certainly attain to death one day while serving the king. 

यच्च भर्तानुयुञ्जीत तदेवाभ्यनुवर्तयेत् | प्रमादमवहेलां च कोपं च परिवर्जयेत् ||

समर्थनासु सर्वासु हितं च प्रियमेव च | संवर्णयेत्तदेवास्य प्रियादपि हितं वदेत् ||

Whatever is asked for by the king, comply with the order appropriately. Avoid carelessness, arrogance or anger while serving the king. In situations of conflict of interest, give advice to the king that is aligned to the interest of the king while ensuring that the message is agreeable to the king. However, if one has to choose between conveying a message that is aligned to king’s interest and message that is agreeable, choose to convey message that is aligned to king’s well-being (and avoid trying to make the message agreeable). 

अनुकूलो भवेच्चास्य सर्वार्थेषु कथासु च | अप्रियं चाहितं यत्स्यात्तदस्मै नानुवर्णयेत् ||

नाहमस्य प्रियोऽस्मीति मत्वा सेवेत पण्डितः | अप्रमत्तश्च यत्तश्च हितं कुर्यात्प्रियं च यत् ||

In all subjects and discussions, always be aligned to the interest of the king. Even while discussing events, avoid topics which are disagreeable to him and not aligned to his interests. A wise man always works with the mindset “I am not a favourite person of the king” and thereby remains alert at all times while serving the king. Whatever is aligned to king’s interest and liked by the king, one must work in such a mindset only at all times. 

नास्यानिष्टानि सेवेत नाहितैः सह संवसेत् | स्वस्थानान्न विकम्पेत स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

दक्षिणं वाथ वामं वा पार्श्वमासीत पण्डितः | रक्षिणां ह्यात्तशस्त्राणां स्थानं पश्चाद्विधीयते ||

Do not serve the king any item that is disliked by the king. Do not make associations with the enemies of the king, be stable in doing what one is doing and only one who behaves like this can live peacefully in the palace. Always sit either to the right or left of the king since the bodyguards occupy the places in front and back of a king. 

नित्यं विप्रतिषिद्धं तु पुरस्तादासनं महत् | न च संदर्शने किंचित्प्रवृद्धमपि संजपेत् ||

अपि ह्येतद्दरिद्राणां व्यलीकस्थानमुत्तमम् | न मृषाभिहितं राज्ञो मनुष्येषु प्रकाशयेत् ||

Always avoid placing a seat that is higher than one occupied by the king. If and when any activity of giving gifts or giving salary is being undertaken in front of him, do not show eagerness in taking these without being specifically called out by name. 

यं चासूयन्ति राजानः पुरुषं न वदेच्च तम् | तथैव चावमन्यन्ते नरान् पण्डितमानिनः॥

शूरोऽस्मीति न दृप्तः स्याद्बुद्धिमानिति वा पुनः | प्रियमेवाचरन्राज्ञः प्रियो भवति भोगवान् ||

Kings hate people who utter lies in front of them. Equally, kings do not prefer people who think of themselves as knowledgeable people. Do not arrogate yourself to express “I am powerful and I am intelligent”. One who always does work that is aligned to the interest of the king – only such a person is liked by the king and thereby benefits from any riches that may be granted by such a king.

ऐश्वर्यं प्राप्य दुष्प्रापं प्रियं प्राप्य च राजतः | अप्रमत्तो भवेद्राज्ञः प्रियेषु च हितेषु च ||

यस्य कोपो महाबाधः प्रसादश्च महाफलः | कस्तस्य मनसापीच्छेदनर्थं प्राज्ञसंमतः ||

Even after obtaining wealth of and other agreeable things from a king that are usually hard to acquire, one must employ himself fully in doing acts for the king that are agreeable and aligned to king’s interest.  Wy should any rational person even inwardly think of doing inappropriate actions towards a king whose anger can create serious trouble and whose happiness can facilitate gaining of riches? 

न चोष्ठौ निर्भुजेज्जातु न च वाक्यं समाक्षिपेत् | सदा क्षुतं च वातं च ष्ठीवनं चाचरेच्छनैः ||

हास्यवस्तुषु चाप्यस्य वर्तमानेषु केषुचित् | नातिगाढं प्रहृष्येत न चाप्युन्मत्तवद्धसेत् ||

न चातिधैर्येण चरेद्गुरुतां हि व्रजेत्तथा | स्मितं तु मृदुपूर्वेण दर्शयेत प्रसादजम् ||

Do not move (or fidget) one’s hands, legs and lips casually in front of a king, avoid doing ill-talk, talk slowly, spit softly and (even when one is compelled), leave gas in a manner that does not make itself known to people around. When a joke is made about any other third person, one must not express excessive enjoyment over such a joke nor must he laugh like a maniac; equally, one must not use strength to restrain himself excessively in such a situation. Such behaviour will enable him to earn respect. And when a person is happy within one’s own mind, one may express by showing a mild smile with modesty

लाभे न हर्षयेद्यस्तु न व्यथेद्योऽवमानितः | असंमूढश्च यो नित्यं स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

राजानं राजपुत्रं वा संवर्तयति यः सदा | अमात्यः पण्डितो भूत्वा स चिरं तिष्ठति श्रियम् ||

One who always guards himself by not displaying excessive happiness on obtaining (even) a difficult attainment nor expresses a strong feeling of unhappiness when insulted, only such a person is worthy of residing in a royal palace. A learned employee of a king is one who regularly describes the king and princes in suitable terms, such a one can continue to stay within the palace for a long time.

प्रगृहीतश्च योऽमात्यो निगृहीतश्च कारणैः | न निर्बध्नाति राजानं लभते प्रग्रहं पुनः ||

प्रत्यक्षं च परोक्षं च गुणवादी विचक्षणः | उपजीवी भवेद्राज्ञो विषये चापि यो वसेत् ||

If an employee of a king who had been a beneficiary of good tidings of the king in the past refrains from blaming the king even if punished unfortunately in a certain situation, such an employee regains prosperity of such a king. Equally, the person who earns his livelihood through the favour of the king or lives in his dominion, if prudent, must praise the favourable characteristics of the king both in his presence and behind him too. 

अमात्यो हि बलाद्भोक्तुं राजानं प्रार्थयेत्तु यः | न स तिष्ठेच्चिरं स्थानं गच्छेच्च प्राणसंशयम् ||

श्रेयः सदात्मनो दृष्ट्वा परं राज्ञा न संवदेत् | विशेषयेन्न राजानं योग्याभूमिषु सर्वदा ||

One who desires to gain his end by using force on the king does not hold his place for long and incurs the danger of losing his life. No person should, for the sake of his own interest, hold meetings with king’s enemies nor should one always come forward to instruct the king on all occasions, however suitable they may be. 

अम्लानो बलवाञ्शूरश्छायेवानपगः सदा | सत्यवादी मृदुर्दान्तः स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

अन्यस्मिन्प्रेष्यमाणे तु पुरस्ताद्यः समुत्पतेत् | अहं किं करवाणीति स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

One who is cheerful, strong, brave, truthful, gentle and has senses under control and who always follows the king like a shadow is alone capable of living in a royal palace. He who steps forward saying “How can I be of help in this situation?” when another person is entrusted with some work, such a one is alone worthy of living in a royal palace. 

आन्तरे चैव बाह्ये च राज्ञा यश्चाथ सर्वदा | आदिष्टो न विकल्पेत स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

यो वै गृहेभ्यः प्रवसन्प्रियाणां नानुसंस्मरेत् | दुःखेन सुखमन्विच्छेत्स राजवसतिं वसेत् ||

When commanded by a king, one who never hesitates to take up personal (taking care of wealth and family of the king) as well as official (those relating to fighting enemies, etc) causes of his king and executes wishes of the king without doubting the intent or without fear, only such a one is fit to be with a king. One who despite having to stay away from family (owing to kingly duties) does not feel unhappy for missing the comforts of home and one who believes in enjoying only as an outcome of hard work put up by him, only such a one is fit to be with a king.

समवेषं न कुर्वीत नात्युच्चैः संनिधौ हसेत् | मन्त्रं न बहुधा कुर्यादेवं राज्ञः प्रियो भवेत् ||

न कर्मणि नियुक्तः सन्धनं किंचिदुपस्पृशेत् | प्राप्नोति हि हरन्द्रव्यं बन्धनं यदि वा वधम् ||

One must refrain from wearing the clothing of a king (or dressing like a king), one must try to get too close to the king, one who does not occupy a seat higher than the king, one who does not confide the secret passed on by a king to him to another, only such a one attains confidence of the king. Appointed to a work, one should not lay hands on money (meaning misappropriate money); if one does this, one runs the risk of imprisoned or put to death. 

यानं वस्त्रमलंकारं यच्चान्यत्संप्रयच्छति | तदेव धारयेन्नित्यमेवं प्रियतरो भवेत् ||

एवं संयम्य चित्तानि यत्नतः पाण्डुनन्दनाः। संवत्सरमिमं तात तथाशीला बुभूषवः | अथ स्वविषयं प्राप्य यथाकामं चरिष्यथ ||

When a king becoming happy gives personal transport, clothes, ornaments or any other objects, one must use such belongings or wear them at all times. One who does so becomes more favourable to the king.  O Yudhistira and sons of Pandu!  Thus controlling your minds with great efforts, spend this year adorned with good conduct. Then, regaining your kingdom, you may act according to your own pleasure. 

Source: Translation of Mahabharata by MN Dutt Sanskrit Shlokas from https://bombay.indology.info/mahabharata/welcome.html

Mahabharata translation in Hindi by Gorakhpur Gita Press