Shloka 21
दुर्ग-निवेश-राजधर्मः | Fortified Capital and the King’s Residential Polity
Rājadharma
उदासीनारिमित्राणां सर्वमेव चिकीर्षितम् । पुरे जनपदे चैव ज्ञातव्यं चारचक्षुषधा
udāsīnāri-mitrāṇāṁ sarvam eva cikīrṣitam | pure janapade caiva jñātavyaṁ cāracakṣuṣā ||
Bhishma sprach: „Der König soll durch die Augen seiner Geheimagenten fortwährend die Absichten und Vorhaben der Neutralen, der Feinde und der Freunde erkennen—was sie zu tun gedenken und wann—sowohl in der Stadt als auch im ganzen Land.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must maintain informed vigilance: by discreet intelligence-gathering, he should know the intentions of allies, enemies, and neutrals across both urban and rural areas, so that governance remains protective, timely, and aligned with rajadharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance. Here he emphasizes the use of trusted secret agents to monitor political intentions within the kingdom and beyond, ensuring stability and preventing threats.