Shloka 9
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
इति राष्ट्र परिपतन् बहुभि: पुरुषैः सह | सर्वेषां राजयुक्तानां दुष्करं परिदृष्टवान्
iti rāṣṭra-paripatan bahubhiḥ puruṣaiḥ saha | sarveṣāṃ rājayuktānāṃ duṣkaraṃ paridṛṣṭavān |
Bhīṣma said: “Saying thus, he wandered throughout the kingdom together with many men. In the course of that tour, he personally witnessed the grievous misconduct of all those engaged in the king’s administration.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Good governance requires direct scrutiny: a ruler (or investigator) should not rely only on reports but must personally observe how officials act, because administrative power can lead to wrongdoing if unchecked.
After making a statement (implied by “iti”), the subject goes around the realm with many companions and, during this tour, directly sees the misdeeds being committed by those employed in royal duties.