Shloka 23
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
मुनिर्वाच ज्ञात्वा पापानपापांश्व भृत्यतस्ते भयानि च । भक्त्या वृत्ति समाख्यातुं भवतो$न्तिकमागमम्
munir uvāca jñātvā pāpān apāpāṁś ca bhṛtyatas te bhayāni ca | bhaktyā vṛttiṁ samākhyātuṁ bhavato 'ntikam āgamam ||
मुनि बोले—महाराज! आपके सेवकों में कौन दोषी है और कौन निर्दोष, यह जानकर तथा यह समझकर कि आपके ही कर्मचारियों से आपको अनेक भय उत्पन्न हो सकते हैं, मैं भक्ति-भाव से राज्य-वृत्तांत बताने के लिए आपके पास आया हूँ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must discern guilt and innocence among officials and attendants, because internal agents can become sources of danger; loyal advisers should report the true state of affairs so governance aligns with dharma and justice.
A sage approaches the king and explains his purpose: after investigating which servants are culpable or blameless and foreseeing threats arising from within the king’s own staff, he has come, out of devotion and concern, to give a full report on the situation.