Shloka 22
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
ब्राह्मण प्रतिजाने ते प्रब्रूहि यदिहेच्छसि । करिष्यामि हि ते वाक्य॑ यदस्मान्विप्र वक्ष्यसि
brāhmaṇa pratijāne te prabrūhi yad ihecchasi | kariṣyāmi hi te vākyaṁ yad asmān vipra vakṣyasi ||
Bhishma said: “O Brahmin, I pledge to you—say here whatever you wish. Whatever word you speak to us, O venerable priest, I shall carry it out.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should invite frank counsel from the virtuous and then uphold his pledged word. Keeping one’s promise (satya/pratijñā) and honoring Brahminical/ascetic guidance are presented as marks of dharmic kingship.
The speaker assures a Brahmin/ascetic that he may speak without fear and that whatever instruction or request he states will be carried out. The moment establishes trust and frames the king’s commitment to welfare-oriented, dharmic action.