Shloka 8
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
प्रणिधींश्व॒ तत: कुर्याज्जडान्धबधिराकृतीन् । पुंस: परीक्षितान प्राज्ञान् क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमक्षमान्
praṇidhīṁś ca tataḥ kuryāj jaḍāndhabadhirākṛtīn | puṁsaḥ parīkṣitān prājñān kṣutpipāsāśramakṣamān ||
قال بهيشما: «ثم لا يُعيَّن جواسيسُ سرٍّ إلا من الرجال الذين اختُبروا اختبارًا تامًّا—حكماء في الفهم، غير أنهم يظهرون للناس كأنهم خُرْسٌ وعُمْيٌ وصُمّ—ويقدرون على احتمال الجوع والعطش وشدة الكدح. فمثل هؤلاء المنضبطين المتخفّين تُوكَل إليهم المهامّ المكنونة.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should employ only carefully vetted, intelligent, self-controlled agents for secret work—people who can remain unnoticed and endure hardship, so that confidential duties are carried out reliably and without exposure.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on administrative safeguards, specifically how to select and deploy spies: choose tested, capable individuals who appear inconspicuous and can tolerate hunger, thirst, and fatigue.