Shloka 55
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
परिखाश्लैव कौरव्य प्रतोलीर्निष्कुटानि च । न जात्वन्य: प्रपश्येत गुह्ममेतद् युधिष्ठिर
parikhāś caiva kauravya pratolīr niṣkuṭāni ca | na jātvan anyaḥ prapaśyet guhyam etad yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô rejeton des Kurus, ces fossés, ces tours de porte et ces enceintes intérieures doivent être disposés de telle sorte qu’aucun étranger ne puisse jamais les voir. C’est une affaire confidentielle, ô Yudhiṣṭhira.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must protect the kingdom through prudent, discreet planning—especially regarding defenses and strategic infrastructure. Security measures should not be exposed to outsiders, because secrecy can prevent exploitation and thereby safeguard subjects.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira practical principles of governance. Here he emphasizes that fortifications and inner defensive arrangements (moats, gates, enclosures) are to be kept confidential so that enemies or rivals cannot assess vulnerabilities.