Shloka 50
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
प्रेष्प्माणा विकल्पन्ते गुह्मां चाप्पनुयुञ्जते । अयाच्य॑ चैव याचन्ते भोज्यान्याहारयन्ति च
preṣyamāṇā vikalpante guhyaṃ cāpy anuyuñjate | ayācyaṃ caiva yācante bhojyāny āhārayanti ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Quand on envoie de tels hommes accomplir une tâche, ils en jettent le succès dans le doute en soulevant des hésitations inutiles. Ils fouillent aussi ce qui devrait rester secret et exposent les fautes cachées du roi. Ils demandent ce qu’il ne faut pas demander, et vont jusqu’à manger les mets réservés au souverain.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that untrustworthy attendants undermine governance: they create doubt in missions, violate confidentiality, make improper demands, and misuse royal resources—traits a king should recognize and avoid.
In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous rule and administration, he describes the recognizable behaviors of corrupt or unsuitable servants/agents, illustrating how they harm a ruler’s effectiveness and dignity.