Shloka 526
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
शीलं जिज्ञासमानेन राज्ञश्न सहजीविन: । मैं राजाके साथ रहनेवाले अधिकारियोंका शील-स्वभाव जानना चाहता था, इसलिये सदा सशड्क रहकर बड़ी सावधानीके साथ यहाँ रहा हूँ। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे कोई साँपवाले मकानमें रहता हो अथवा किसी शूरवीरकी पत्नीके घरमें घुस गया हो
śīlaṃ jijñāsamānena rājñaḥ saha-jīvinaḥ | mayā rājñā saha vartamānānām adhikāriṇāṃ śīla-svabhāvo jijñāsitaḥ, tasmāt sadā saśaṅkaḥ san mahā-sāvadhānena iha avasam | yathā sarpa-gṛhe vāsaḥ syāt, athavā śūra-vīrasya patnyāḥ gṛhe praviṣṭa iva |
Bhīṣma dijo: «Deseando conocer la conducta y el carácter de quienes viven y sirven junto al rey, permanecí aquí siempre en guardia, con suma cautela. Era como habitar una casa donde hay una serpiente, o como quien se ha introducido en la morada de la esposa de un héroe.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s environment can be morally and politically hazardous; therefore one must carefully assess the character (śīla) of those close to power and remain vigilant, acting with prudence rather than naïve trust.
Bhishma explains why he lived in the royal setting with constant caution: he was observing and testing the conduct of the king’s close associates/officials, comparing the danger of courtly proximity to living with a snake or committing a socially perilous intrusion.