Shloka 12
राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः
Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration
तेषां वृत्ति परिणयेत् कक्रिद् राष्ट्रेषु तच्चर: । जिघांसव: पापकामा: परस्वादायिन: शठा:
teṣāṁ vṛttiṁ pariṇayet kakrid rāṣṭreṣu taccaraḥ | jighāṁsavaḥ pāpakāmāḥ parasvādāyinaḥ śaṭhāḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Qu’un espion, allant et venant dans les royaumes, s’assure de leur manière de vivre et de leur conduite — ceux qui brûlent de tuer, qui désirent des fins coupables, qui vivent en prenant le bien d’autrui, et les fourbes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should use intelligence networks to identify dangerous and unethical elements—murderous, sin-seeking, thieving, deceitful persons—so that society can be protected and governance can remain aligned with dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on internal security: spies circulating through various realms should investigate people’s conduct and livelihoods, especially to detect those inclined to violence, theft, and fraud.