Shloka 62
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
एकदोषा हि बहवो मृद्नीयुरपि कण्टकान् । मन्त्रभेदभयाद् राजंस्तस्मादेतद् ब्रवीमि ते
ekadoṣā hi bahavo mṛdnīyur api kaṇṭakān | mantrabhedabhayād rājan tasmād etad bravīmi te ||
Bhishma said: “When many people are all charged with the same single fault, they tend to unite; and once united, they can crush even formidable ‘thorns’ (dangerous obstacles). Therefore, O king, fearing that this confidential counsel might be divulged, I tell you this: deal with your opponents one by one.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that a common accusation can unify many people into a powerful bloc; hence a ruler should prevent opponents from forming a united front by keeping strategy secret and addressing threats individually.
In Bhishma’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma) in the Shanti Parva, he gives pragmatic counsel to the king: secrecy is vital, because if adversaries learn the plan and feel collectively targeted, they may unite and become harder to overcome.