Shloka 55
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
परिखाश्लैव कौरव्य प्रतोलीर्निष्कुटानि च । न जात्वन्य: प्रपश्येत गुह्ममेतद् युधिष्ठिर,कुरुनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! अन्नके भण्डार, शस्त्रागार, योद्धाओंके निवासस्थान, अश्वशालाएँ, गजशालाएँ, सैनिक शिविर, खाई, गलियाँ तथा राजमहलके उद्यान--इन सब स्थानोंको गुप्तरीतिसे बनवाना चाहिये, जिससे कभी दूसरा कोई देख न सके
parikhāś caiva kauravya pratolīr niṣkuṭāni ca | na jātvan anyaḥ prapaśyet guhyam etad yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O Spross der Kurus, diese Gräben, Tortürme und inneren Umfriedungen sind so anzulegen, dass kein Außenstehender sie jemals zu Gesicht bekommt. Dies ist eine vertrauliche Angelegenheit, o Yudhiṣṭhira.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must protect the kingdom through prudent, discreet planning—especially regarding defenses and strategic infrastructure. Security measures should not be exposed to outsiders, because secrecy can prevent exploitation and thereby safeguard subjects.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira practical principles of governance. Here he emphasizes that fortifications and inner defensive arrangements (moats, gates, enclosures) are to be kept confidential so that enemies or rivals cannot assess vulnerabilities.