Shloka 3
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
श्रोतव्यमस्य च रहो रक्ष्यश्षामात्यतो भवेत् | अमात्या हापहर्तारो भूयिष्ठं घ्नन्ति भारत
śrotavyam asya ca raho rakṣyaś cāmātyato bhavet | amātyā hāpahartāro bhūyiṣṭhaṃ ghnanti bhārata ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Seine Meldung soll im Geheimen angehört werden, und er ist vor dem Minister zu schützen. Denn Minister, die (aus der königlichen Schatzkammer) stehlen, töten zumeist den, der sie entlarvt, o Bhārata.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must handle accusations of ministerial theft with discretion: hear the informant confidentially and ensure his protection, because corrupt officials may retaliate violently against whistleblowers.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance—specifically how to respond when someone reports that a minister is stealing from the treasury, emphasizing secrecy and protection.